drug needle exchange in belfast to close, reducing support for vulnerable users

A drug needle exchange in Belfast, operated by the charity Extern, is set to close on November 2 due to the loss of its city centre premises, BBC Health reported.

The service provided a safe place for people who inject heroin or cocaine to dispose of used needles, obtain clean ones, and access health services.

Extern described the exchange as a "life-saving service" and warned that its closure will leave vulnerable individuals without a place to seek support.

Mal Byrne, Extern's director of harm reduction and mental health services, emphasized that the people using the service are members of the community who rely on it as a non-judgmental source of help.

Following the closure, the service will continue as a "significantly reduced street-based service," but the charity expressed concerns that this may increase visible substance use and drug-related litter in the city centre.

Extern's premises are planned for redevelopment as part of the Belfast Stories project, leaving the charity to find a new space to operate from.