Demand for syringes is outstripping supply, but Sunshine won’t get a state government-funded needle collection and disposal service unless residents and health agencies demand it.
Star Weekly revealed last month Sunshine is Brimbank’s number one hot spot for discarded syringes, but has no disposal service.
A spokeswoman for Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said the DHHS is working on “possible additional sites”.
“And this could include Sunshine, if there are concerns from residents and local providers,” she said.
Brimbank council wants NSP services expanded in the municipality; there are currently four in St Albans.
A 2013 LeadWest report found the “provision of needles and syringes was lagging behind demand” in the west.
Demand increased by almost 200 per cent over the past 10 years in Brimbank, the report revealed, with 300,000 distributed in Brimbank in 2012 alone.
LeadWest chief executive Craig Rowley said he hopes the state government will find more funding in its next budget for extra NSP services for Brimbank.
“It (discarded syringes) is a growing problem, there’s no doubt,” he said.
“Aside for other public health benefits, such as reducing rates of HIV and hepatitis C infection … these programs are an important point for collection of used injecting equipment.”
