Argyll and Bute needle and syringe service
Get new, sterile injecting equipment to help keep you safe
For anyone who injects drugs. You don't need an appointment. If you're not local to one of our offices, we can arrange to get equipment to you. Please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Where to find us
If you're able to come into one of our offices in Argyll and Bute, you don't need an appointment to collect equipment.
If you don't live nearby, we can arrange to get equipment to you. Call us on 0800 206 1460.
Dunoon office
Call: 01369 704406
Address: Ballochyle House, Kirk Street, Dunoon, PA23 7DP
Oban office
Call: 01631 700207
Address: Muir Suite, Boswell House, Argyll Square, Oban PA34 7JJ
Helensburgh office
Call: 01436 640216
Address: 17a East King Street, Helensburgh, G84 7QQ
Our needle and syringe service is free and confidential
If you inject any substance, we want to support you to stay as safe as possible.
We make our services welcoming and accessible and a place where you won’t be judged. Please be reassured that we will respect your privacy and any decisions you make about your substance use.
You don't need an appointment. You can just walk in and get what you need.
You don't have to pay for this service.
When I first went to the needle exchange, I was surprised how well I was treated and not judged for my situation.
Peter, WithYou client
What to expect when you visit
You can get new equipment free, whatever you’re injecting, including steroids.
Let staff know what you’re using and they’ll make sure you get the right equipment.
You can get:
- needles (pins)
- syringes (barrels)
- spoons (cookers)
- citric or vitamin C
- filters
- foil
- bins
You should be able to take away as much stuff as you need.
When you visit our needle and syringe service you’ll be able to talk to a trained member of staff in a private room.
They’ll ask you for some basic information, such as your name and date of birth, and ask you what you need.
If you don’t want to give your full name you can give your initials instead.
They’ll also ask if you have any used equipment to return.
Needle exchange staff encourage everyone to return used equipment so they can dispose of it safely.
You can still pick up new stuff if you haven’t got any used equipment to bring back.
We won’t tell anyone else that you've been to the needle and syringe service. Anything you tell us is confidential.
The only time we’ll share your information with someone else is if we’re seriously worried about your safety or someone else’s.
Advice about safer injecting – the staff in needle and syringe services are experts in safer injecting. You can ask them about caring for wounds, avoiding infections and anything else to do with injecting.
Scripts – if you’re using an opiate drug like heroin you can talk to staff about getting a script for methadone or buprenorphine so that you can detox or maintain.
Blood tests – you can get tested for viruses that are spread through blood like HIV, hep B and hep C.
Vaccinations – you can get vaccinated against hep B.
Naloxone – needle and syringe service staff can advise you on preventing overdose. They can give you a free naloxone injection (Prenoxad) or nasal spray (Nyxoid) and train you how to use them. Naloxone reverses the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine and methadone.
Access to other services – staff can help you find other support, including drug or alcohol treatment and advice on sexual health, housing and legal matters.
