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Overview of the data | Tables | Graphics | Methods and definitions
The links above give access to the tables in the bulletin and the associated graphics in the section dealing with needle and syringe availability, as well as to a description of the methods and definitions used in compiling this data. A brief overview is provided below. See also the side navigation bar for links to all chapters.
These tables give information on the provision of syringes through needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) and pharmacy sales in 25 EU countries, Norway and Bulgaria. Reported are the numbers of syringes distributed, exchanged and sold at different types of syringe provision points, including pharmacies, non-pharmacy-based services and vending machines. Data on the year of introduction of needle and syringe programmes complement the information.
References and sources used for the needle and syringe programme information provided in the other tables are given in Table NSP-0.
Summary points
Table NSP-1 provides an overview of the number of points where syringes have been available for distribution, exchange or sale in the countries, including at vending machines and community pharmacies. The table also gives the reported number of syringes provided to drug users at these services in 2003.
Despite continuous increases over the past years in most countries, differences are still apparent in the coverage of needle and syringe programmes among Member States, which affect data comparability. Table NSP-2 provides information on the year in which needle and syringe exchange programmes were introduced in the Member States, from when on they were publicly funded, and which types of needle and syringes programmes were available in 2003.
Nearly all countries have needle and syringe programmes based at drugs agencies, although comparatively few countries base them at pharmacies. Table NSP-3 provides the numbers of non-pharmacy needle and syringe exchange programmes, including fixed and mobile points serviced by drugs agencies, outreach work and peer-distribution, as well as total number of syringes exchanged, distributed or sold at these points in 2002 and 2003. Data from vending machines are not included. The table include local or regional information where national totals are not available.
While nearly all countries have needle and syringe programmes based at drugs agencies, comparatively few countries make use of pharmacies as outlets for needle and syringe programmes. Table NSP-4 gives information on the number of community pharmacies involved in needle and syringe programmes and on the number of syringes exchanged or distributed to drug users at these pharmacies in 2002 and 2003. The table includes only those countries where information on pharmacy-based NSPs were available, and the table includes local or regional information where national totals were not available
Table NSP-5 shows the reported numbers of syringe vending machines and total numbers of syringes distributed or sold in 2002 and 2003. The table includes only those countries where information on syringe provision via vending machines was available, again including local or regional information where national totals were not available.
Data are particularly poor with regard to the number of syringes sold to drug users at community pharmacies and only a few countries are able to provide reliable data in this area. This is despite the fact that pharmacy syringe sale is legal in all countries except Sweden and it is therefore likely to be a main source of syringe provision for many drug users. Table NSP-6 shows the reported numbers of pharmacy sales of syringes in 2002 and 2003. It includes only those countries where information on syringe sales in pharmacies was available and shows local or regional information where national totals were not available.
The results presented in the tables reflect that data on the number of syringes provided are not available to the same extent from all types of syringe provision points in the Member States.