Needle and syringe program

The Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) can provide you with sterile injecting equipment and safe sharps disposal. NSPs are one of the approaches used by the National Drug Strategy in harm reduction.

The program provides a range of services which include free:

• injecting equipment
• safe disposal
• education on harm reduction and healthy, safe injecting practices
• referrals to drug treatment programs and support
• take home naloxone.

The NSP aims to prevent the spread of blood borne viruses and other harms from injecting drugs. It does this by reducing the sharing or reuse of injecting equipment.

There are several types of NSP outlets in the Northern Territory (NT):

• primary and secondary outlets
• after hours dispensing units (ADU)
• some pharmacies.

Look for the NSP logo to help identify if the location has  NSP services.

NSP outlets

Find primary, secondary and pharmacy outlets, as well as ADUs below.

Primary outlets

There are 3 NSP primary outlet locations in the NT:

• Darwin
• Palmerston
• Alice Springs.

These outlets are run by the NT AIDS and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC).

Primary outlets offer:

• a large range of free injecting equipment
• 24-hour disposal of equipment
• staff with lived experience of injecting
• education on harm reduction and healthy, safe injecting practices
• referrals to drug treatment programs and other supports
• free tokens for the ADUs
• take home naloxone.

For locations, opening times and contact information, go to the NTAHC website.

Secondary outlets

There are 12 NSP secondary outlets in the NT.

These outlets are operated by:

• Clinic 34
• hospital emergency departments
  • Darwin
  • Palmerston
  • Alice Springs
  • Katherine
  • Tennant Creek
  • Nhulunbuy
• the Yulara medical centre - get contact details on the Healthdirect Australia website

Secondary outlets offer:

• a limited range of injecting equipment for free
• limited disposal facilities.

Some secondary outlets offer tokens for the ADU.

Pharmacy outlets

There are 21 pharmacy NSP outlets in the NT.

Pharmacy outlets provide a limited range of injecting equipment for sale. Some also have disposal facilities.

Get a list of pharmacy locations and contact information on the NTAHC website.

ADUs

ADUs provide 24-hour access to sterile injecting equipment for free in:

• Darwin
• Palmerston
• Humpty Doo
• Katherine
• Nhulunbuy
• Tennant Creek
• Alice Springs.

The Humpty Doo and Alice Springs units, are token operated and don't take coins.

A token can be collected for free from an NSP outlet in the area.

Each pack dispensed from an ADU contains a token so that you can access the equipment you need.

Find out more about ADUs on the NTAHC website.

Free Take Home Naloxone (THN)

Naloxone is a potentially life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, read more about Naloxone.

Free THN can be accessed at all 3 primary NSP outlets.

Find more about free THN on the NTAHC website.

There are 31 pharmacies across the NT where free THN can be accessed.

Check out the NT sites registered for THN.

Contact

For more information, call the Public Health Unit Directorate Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus program on 08 8922 8487.