Calls for age restrictions on free syringes as Kimberley kids as young as eight request needle packs

Kids as young as eight are being handed packs of free needles provided for intravenous drug users in the Kimberley, prompting calls for age restrictions to the scheme. Hospitals and health services across WA provide “fit packs” containing five sterile needles and syringes to drug users to help prevent transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. Questions asked in Parliament by Broome-based MLC Neil Thomson have revealed Kimberley health providers’ concerns that children as young as eight are being provided fit packs through the Health Department’s free needle program. Mr Thomson said health professionals feared the children were using those needles for drug use for themselves or other children or adults. In response, Labor MP Pierre Yang said “clinical judgment” was used when distributing fit packs, “as well as providing information and referrals to drug services where appropriate”. It comes after The West last week revealed an eight-year-old girl was pricked by a needle found in the playground of a Broome primary school, amid residents’ complaints of an alarming increase in the number of needles being discarded across the tourist town. Mr Thomson said it was shocking there was no limitation on children accessing needles. “The idea that kids can pick up fit packs without question is disturbing,” he said. “I just think there needs to be a review of the way we handle these fit packs. “We shouldn’t be giving them out to kids and there should be some better controls around who’s responsible for cleaning this rubbish up. We’re handing these out willy-nilly, surely this shouldn’t just be left up to the long-suffering community.” Mr Thomson said more Kimberley residents seemed to be turning to drugs after tougher liquor restrictions were imposed on the region in July, but there were not enough services to support them. Shire of Derby/West Kimberley president Peter McCumstie was also concerned the stricter liquor sales regime was worsening Derby’s drug problem, with reports of people buying needles pre-loaded with methamphetamines for $10 each because it was easier to obtain than alcohol. Mr McCumstie said he had also received reports from local health services of eight-year-olds requesting needles. He believed under-18s should be required to undergo some assessment before they were given them. “It’s bad enough having adults using drugs — the last thing we need is kids of any age not only getting on to drugs but getting access to things that can allow them to,” he said. Official figures show the number of needles and syringes distributed in the Kimberley surged 37 per cent between 2021 and last year, from 105,078 to 144,032. A spokesperson for WA Health said needle and syringe programs were a cost-effective measure to reduce community transmission of hepatitis C and HIV. “In accordance with harm reduction principles, patient confidentiality is maintained when distributing fit packs,” they said. On Wednesday, Premier Roger Cook said the government continued to do everything it could to ensure it got dirty needles off the streets. “That includes our needle exchange program, and I’ll be advised by the department in relation to what other changes we need to make,” he said.