This locally commissioned service (LCS) is delivered by a number of community pharmacies (attached) aims to reduce the rate of needle and syringe sharing and risk of associated complications such as blood borne infections and drug-related deaths.

Eligibility criteria

• all adult (aged 18 years or over) injectors (including steroid users) who are using drugs illicitly. 

This LCS involves (see service specification for further details):

• ensuring the return and safe disposal of used injecting equipment
• providing sterile needles, syringes and sharp containers
• providing and reinforcing harm reduction messages including safe sex advice and advice on overdose prevention (e.g. risks of poly-drug use and alcohol use)
• making every contact count by referral to other health and social care services (such as the Smoking Cessation (pharmacy delivered) Public Health LCS, key working, prescribing, Hepatitis B immunisation, sexual health STI screening service in primary care
• offering referral to the GP provided Opiate Drug Misuse Public Health LCS or Sexual Health Public Health LCS or specialist centres such as the Camden Integrated Drug and Alcohol service, the Breathe Stop Smoking service or Sexual Health Services: CNWL where appropriate.

For queries, contact Public Health via ph.lcs@camden.gov.uk cc'ing Esther.Amaefule@camden.gov.uk. 

To add to current list of related services:

• Smoking Cessation (pharmacy delivered) Public Health LCS
• Supervised Self-Administration (pharmacy delivered) Public Health LCS 
• Smoking Cessation Public Health LCS
• Opiate Drug Misuse Public Health LCS