Expansion call for needle exchange

May 15 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A PERTH councillor has expressed her “grave concern” over the future of the area’s drugs needle exchange programme – and said it is in desperate need of a revamp.

Davidsons the Chemist, on Bridgend’s Main Street, is the only pharmacy in the Fair City currently operating as part of a scheme designed to give local addicts sterilised equipment and advice on how to kick their habit.

City Centre Councillor Heather Stewart has voiced support for Tayside Police Inspector Dave Barclay’s call in Tuesday’s PA for more Perth outlets to join the programme.

She said that an increase in facilities is the only way to reduce residents’ concerns about the amount of addicts congregating in Bridgend.

She added: “Over the past few weeks, Perth and Kinross Council,Tayside Police and I have been trying to persuade NHS Tayside to provide additional premises that would take the pressure off Bridgend.

“The local police force have been putting on extra patrols but this is still not satisfactory.

“Drug users from all over Perth are congregating in the one area and it is having a detrimental effect on the residents.

“I am afraid to say that we live in a society where drug use is on the increase and we need things like needle exchange schemes.

“I have expressed my grave concerns to NHS Tayside over having just one chemist to deal with the whole of Perth and have urged them to address this issue,” she said.