What is a Needle Exchange Program (NEP)?

• Harm reduction programs help people reduce harm to themselves or to others by providing other options to risky activities.
• Needle  Exchange Programs (NEPs) are a form of harm reduction, as they aim to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C among injection drug users.
• Sharing needles and other equipment (spoons, water, filters, etc) are high risk activities for getting HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C.
• NEPs provide access to clean needles and a safe place to dispose of used needles.
• The Fredericton NEP also provides referrals, counseling, resources and education.

Services Offered to NEP Clients:

• Needle distribution/safe disposal of used needles
• Information on safer injecting and vein care
• Walk-in consultations
• Free condoms, needles, alcohol swaps, and cotton pellets
• Referrals to anonymous HIV and Hepatitis testing
• HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections education
• Individual counseling
• Referrals to other community resources
• Treatment information/Resource Center/Library

For more information or to volunteer in the NEP contact: nepcoordinator@aidsnb.com 1-800-561-4009

The History of Fredericton’s NEP

AIDS New Brunswick has been  operating a NEP since 1999. The program originated as a community response to the high number of discarded needles in public places and an increase in reported cases of HIV and Hepatitis C within the region.

The Fredericton NEP owes its formation and success to the partnership among AIDS New Brunswick, the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Nursing, Addiction Services River Valley Health, the Fredericton Police Force, and the Department of Health (Public Health).

NEP services are free and  confidential. Clients are given a code that helps log information for statistical purposes. In the period of January-December 2009, a total of 300 clients accessed the NEP services on a total of 1,234 different occasions.

A Little Bit of NEP History

In 1987, Canada’s first informal NEP opened in Toronto; by 1989 Canada’s first formal NEPs opened in Toronto and Vancouver. Many of the first informal NEPs did not   operate from fixed addresses. They operated from the backs of vans or the trunks of cars.

There are well over 100 NEPs operating in Canada. NEPs in Atlantic Canada are located in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John, NB, Charlottetown, PEI, three main sites in NS: Sharp Advice, Mainline, and Direction 180; and SWAP in St. John’s, NL.

NEP Facts

• Needle exchange is an effective strategy for assisting people who inject drugs to reduce the risk of infectious disease and bacterial infections. Also, the availability of NEPs increase the likelihood that intravenous drug users will seek help.
• As of 2007, 171 people were living with AIDS in NB. During the same year, eight new cases of HIV were reported. (Note:  not all cases are reported) (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• It is estimated that 3,300-6,600 Canadians are infected with Hepatitis C per year. In 2005, 272 new cases of Hepatitis were reported in NB.  (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• In 2004, it was estimated that there were  847 intravenous drug users in NB. (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• The Fredericton Needle Exchange Program is supported through funding by New Brunswick Department of Health.

Fredericton NEP Stats
Year	# of visits	# of needles provided	# of  needles returned
2006	1,546	31,382	29,207
2007	1,688	79,100	63,222
2008	1,962	101,922	85,620
2009	1,234	90,270	61,725