One of the country’s most successful public health initiatives, the needle exchange program has become a network of hundreds of outlets. The first exchange outlets began operating in 1987 following legislation earlier that year that legalised the practice. The early adoption of the exchange program is one reason why AIDS/HIV is low within the intravenous drug using community in Aotearoa New Zealand compared to similar countries elsewhere. Thousands of lives have been saved by the program.
//players.brightcove.net/963482464001/HJiGOMree_default/index.html?videoId=5682891395001
Another Spectrum 
18 Dec, 2017 at 4:24 am
this is something to be emulated elsewhere
18 Dec, 2017 at 5:57 am
Criminologists have been citing needle exchanges for the public health benefits in the States, and there are places which flat out pretend they don’t exist. Such a simple way to help people that often gets ignored.