Clean needle program

The Clean Needle Program is an important public health initiative that reduces the spread of blood borne viruses including HIV and hepatitis C among people who inject drugs and the wider community.

The program provides a range of services including the provision of sterile needles and syringes, sharps disposal containers and disposal facilities, information, education, and referral for people who inject drugs.

Similar programs in other states and territories are known as Needle and Syringe Programs.

To find your nearest Clean Needle Program site please download the CNP Site List.

Metropolitan and country Clean Needle Program sites

To find your nearest Clean Needle Program site please download the CNP site LIST.

To find your nearest Clean Needle Program site that has a Hepatitis SA Peer Educator please visit Hepatitis SA Peer Educator page or call Alcohol and Drug Information (ADIS) on 1300 13 1340.

For confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service for the general public, concerned family and friends, students and health professionals.

Information kit

The Needle and Syringe Program information kit provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Clean Needle Program.

The kit consists of two booklets:

  1. Needle and Syringe Program: Your questions answered
  2. Needle and Syringe Program: A review of the evidence.

Benefits of the Clean Needle Program

The Clean Needle Program reduces blood borne virus transmission and increases other health and social outcomes effectively, safely and cost efficiently. This is achieved by the provision of a range of services to people who inject drugs including:

  • the distribution of sterile needles and syringes and disposal equipment
  • the provision of information and education about safer injecting practices and safe disposal practices
  • referral to a variety of services such as drug treatment, health, legal, and social services.

Evidence shows participation in the Clean Needle Program results in:

  • more clients accessing primary health care services
  • higher rates of enrolment in drug treatment programs
  • higher treatment retention rates.

The Clean Needle Program is also associated with:

  • reduced rates of injecting
  • increased cessation of injecting
  • overall improvement in quality of life.

Return on investment

Australian Governments invested $243 million dollars in needle and syringe programs between 2000 and 2009. Australia wide, needle and syringe programs are estimated to have saved $1.28 billion dollars in downstream health care costs during this 10-year period. It is estimated that needle and syringe programs have directly averted 32,050 new HIV infections and 96,667 new hepatitis C infections.

Further information

Contact us

Clean Needle Program Administration
Email: HealthDASSAHarmReduction@sa.gov.au