Page 1502 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 11 August 1992

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION 123

Drugs - Needle Exchange Program

Mrs Carnell - asked the Minister for Health:

1. How many disposable syringes are given away by the ACT Needle Exchange Program?

2. How does this compare with New South Wales on a population basis?

3. What is the return rate of disposable syringes given away?

4. How does this compare with New South Wales?

5. What action is the Minister taking to improve the rates of return?

Mr Berry - the answer to Ms Carnells question is:

1. 20,000 disposable syringes-are distributed per quarter (80,000 - 100,000 per annum).

2. New South Wales AIDS Department of Health is not prepared to release this information.

3. An average of 55% of syringes are returned. The actual figures for the 1991 December quarter were;

20,717 distributed

12,543 returned

4. The New South Wales target return is 60-% and exceeds this. Some sites have a 100$ return rate whilst others have 0% returns.

5. The emphasis of the Needle Exchange Program is not on return, but rather safe disposal. There are good systems for dispos

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