Needle exchange for 13,700 drug users

At least 13,700 drug users are availing of needle exchange services, according to the first study of its type in the country.

And reflecting the national spread of the injecting of drugs, particularly of heroin, the report documents nearly 2,500 injectors in the HSE South region and more than 1,400 users in HSE West.

It found over 270,000 syringes and 135,000 needles were given out in 2012.