Dimensions of access for rural people who inject drugs

What is it about?

Secondary Needle Syringe Program (NSP) outlets are important in ensuring access for People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in nonmetropolitan locations have access to sterile injecting equipment to prevent spread of blood-borne infections. Thus, motivated by the need for a greater understanding of the needs and expectations of rural PWID in relation to the ease and acceptability of access to injecting equipment in one particular rural area of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, a survey with service users was undertaken.

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Why is it important?

This article is a valuable addition to the knowledge and understanding of issues of access to sterile injecting equipment for PWID in rural locations. It sheds further light on the need to provide a range of access models that complement each other for different people in the population. The findings may inform drug policy for people in rural areas where privacy and anonymity can compromise NSP access and there is a need for multiple complimentary access modes