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Harm Reduction Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing the harms from using drugs. Harms include but are not limited to:  transmission of blood borne viruses  damage to veins and circulation  injecting wounds  bacterial infections  Harm reduction strategies include promotion of safer drug use such as alternatives to injecting and provision of clean equipment. 
Harm Reduction Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing the harms from using drugs. Harms include but are not limited to:  transmission of blood borne viruses  damage to veins and circulation  injecting wounds  bacterial infections  Harm reduction strategies include promotion of safer drug use such as alternatives to injecting and provision of clean equipment. 

 

Harm Reduction Services 

Harm reduction services recognise that management and reduction of drug-related harm is an option if someone does not chooses to or does not feel able to eliminate drug use entirely. In Tayside we have a range of harm reduction services available including a specialist nursing team, access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) through Alcohol and Drug Services and Injecting Equipment Provision (IEP) also known as needle exchange. 

The service plays an integral role in reducing the harms associated with injecting drug use for people. The aims of the specialist service are to: Reduce and prevent blood borne virus (Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV) transmission Reduce injecting site infections and treat injecting wounds Reduce hospital admissions related to ulcerated wounds Support individuals into BBV and drug treatment Reduce drug related deaths and near fatal overdose
The service plays an integral role in reducing the harms associated with injecting drug use for people. The aims of the specialist service are to: Reduce and prevent blood borne virus (Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV) transmission Reduce injecting site infections and treat injecting wounds Reduce hospital admissions related to ulcerated wounds Support individuals into BBV and drug treatment Reduce drug related deaths and near fatal overdose

 

 

Eliminating Hepatitis C

Connecting with Care

 

Tayside Harm Reduction/Blood-Borne Virus (BBV) Nursing Service provides specialist nursing input and support to people who inject drugs (PWID) across Tayside. 

 

The specialist nurses do this by:  assessment of individuals’ risk, advise on safer injecting techniques, discuss alternatives to injecting, provide overdose awareness training to staff and clients, provide naloxone, screening for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy testing, emergency hormonal contraception, hepatitis B vaccination, antibiotic prescribing and assessment for hepatitis C treatment.
The specialist nurses do this by:  assessment of individuals’ risk, advise on safer injecting techniques, discuss alternatives to injecting, provide overdose awareness training to staff and clients, provide naloxone, screening for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy testing, emergency hormonal contraception, hepatitis B vaccination, antibiotic prescribing and assessment for hepatitis C treatment.

 

Injecting Equipment Provision (IEP) 

Injecting Equipment Provision (IEP) provides people who inject drugs with; clean needles, syringes and other injection paraphernalia such as water and citric acid. These services were previously known as Needle Exchanges. 

There are a number of health risks associated with injecting drug use: Symbol of a yellow circle with a green arrow pointing right and a red arrow below it pointing left. Look for this symbol in the windows of Tayside pharmacies and Services for IEP.

  • abscesses 
  • cellulitis 
  • collapsed veins (injecting with a blunt needle, overuse of injecting sites) 
  • increased risk of getting a blood-borne virus (BBV), particularly Hepatitis C. 

 

Naloxone saves lives 

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist; a drug which can temporarily reverse the effects of a potentially fatal overdose involving opioid drugs such as heroin, morphine, or methadone.  

It is a first aid emergency response to overdose. When used, it provides more time for emergency services to attend and medical care to be given. Individuals using drugs, family, friends, and people in the community can be supplied with ‘take-home’ Naloxone (THN) kits. This is offered along with training on how to administer Naloxone and overdose awareness to reduce the risk of death. Naloxone is widely available across the city, both as part of the ‘take-home’ scheme and within a wide range of services.  

There are two options for Take Home Naloxone in Tayside 

  • Prenoxad – an intramuscular preparation (syringe contains five doses) 
  • Nyxoid – a nasal spray (pack contains two single use nasal sprays) 

For more information about training and carrying Naloxone please click the link HERE    

 

Near-Fatal Overdose Rapid Response and Assertive Outreach 

In 2019, Dundee established a multi-agency team to provide a rapid response to all known near-fatal overdoses (NFO) and support individuals who have experienced a NFO to access services quickly. The team meets every weekday and contacts each individual who has experienced a NFO within 72 hours. Assertive outreach workers reach out to people in their own environment and offer support to help them engage with treatment services and other support services they may need. This could include but not limited to, access to housing, food banks, social support, benefit agencies, GP services and medical treatment.  

 

SafeZone Street Outreach   The Dundee SafeZone bus is a mobile outreach service in the community that supports people to engage with services as required. Staff from various services are available to assist with immediate one-to-one support, signposting to other services and harm reduction support.