12 Aug 2025

IV drug users demanding say in needle exchange services

From Checkpoint, 5:17 pm on 12 August 2025

Intravenous drug users are demanding a say in the future of the South Island's needle exchange services, warning health leaders are gambling with their lives. In seven weeks, needle exchange programme DISC Trust will hand over its long-standing contract, which provides sterile drug injecting equipment at six sites around the South Island. Health NZ's chosen new provider still hasn't revealed how or where it plans to run the service. Katie Todd reports.