Clean Needle Program (CNP) Pharmacy Scheme

The Clean Needle Program (CNP) is a public health measure endorsed by the Minister for Health and aims to reduce the spread of blood born viral infections such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) and the general community.

The CNP Pharmacy Scheme, funded by DASSA and administered by The Pharmacy Guild of Australia South Australian Branch offers pre packed sterile injecting equipment for purchase at participating CNP pharmacies throughout metropolitan and rural SA for people who inject drugs (PWID).

The aim of providing sterile injecting equipment to people who inject drugs (PWID) is to prevent the shared use of injecting equipment which can lead to the transmission of blood -borne viruses. Equipment provided by the Clean Needle Program to people who inject drugs includes a variety of needles and syringes, alcohol swabs and sharps containers.

CNP Pharmacies also provide a sharps waste disposal service for the return of injecting equipment.

International Overdose Awareness Day is approaching on 31 August. 2023.

The aim of this important day is to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of overdose and drug-related deaths, and spread the message that overdose death is preventable to our clients

International Overdose Awareness day is a great opportunity for us all to raise awareness amongst the community, and those accessing the Clean Needle Program. We encourage you to use this day to talk to clients about overdose, prevention tips, recognising overdose and increasing individuals’ confidence in responding, including use of Take Home Naloxone.

To inform client engagement, please visit the SA Health Naloxone website for information on how to prevent and respond to opioid overdose, including access to resources available for download, providing advice for workers, client handouts and information leaflets for free naloxone.

Find out more about International Overdose Awareness Day.