THE SYRINGE IN THE MACHINE

This paper is a report on focus-group discussions with Western Austral ian and South Australian injecting drug users and South Australian dru g workers, about the feasibility of and issues surrounding the introdu ction of needle-and-syringe vending machines in Australia. Injecting d rug users and workers supported the idea of introducing vending machin es in Australia to complement existing services that provide sterile i njecting equipment. The participants emphasised that the machines shou ld be provided in addition to existing services. Possible adverse effe cts of their introduction included concerns for the safety of miners w ho are not drug users. The potential benefits to public health include s further reducing that proportion of the sharing of injecting equipme nt that is related to unavailability of sterile equip ment (usually at times when other services do not operate).