The Needle Exchange service provides safe collection and disposal of used injection equipment, provides harm reduction education, drug information, as well as health referrals to doctors, detox and treatment centres, and counselling.
The Needle Exchange is a non-profit organisation funded though the Ministry of Health and collects statistics for Ministry of Health on age, gender, ethnicity, and the type of equipment people are buying.
They do not promote nor condone drug use, and the aim is to reduce drug-related harm among injecting drug users, and they offer safe alternatives that will benefit the individual, family and the community. One of the tools for reducing the spread of blood-borne viruses is the 1-4-1 programme, where new needles are provided free if used needles are brought in and disposed of in the appropriate containers.
The 1-4-1 programme has distributed 3.5 million needles and syringes nationwide since its inception in 2004. Ms Gemmell said the staff do not handle anything brought in by clients, and returns containers are provided to put used needles in to reduce the chance of them being dropped or contaminating another user.
"We work on a philosophy of building supportive communities.
If someone is a an injecting drug user, there is nowhere in the community they can go to get good health information. It is a real drive of ours to educate people.
"For most people, we are their first point of call for health concerns because we are confidential and non- judgmental."
Branch coordinator Robyn Potts said they have seen an increase in steroid use in the exchanges throughout New Zealand and although there is no known reason, her personal opinion is that it could be due to the fact women have had procedures available to enhance their looks.
"Now there seems to be something out there for men (steroids)".
The client base of NEWS is not limited to drug users, with tattoo artists using the service to dispose safely of used tattooing needles and prostitutes using the safe sex supplies.
The waste products, such as the used needles, are collected by a van driver who delivers them to a medical waste landfill in Auckland, where it is turned to dust and buried.
The clinic operates from 8.30am-5.30pm Monday-Friday and 9am-1pm Saturday.
There are 21 dedicated exchange centres throughout New Zealand along with 185 pharmacies who also offer the programme.