Syringe Exchange Availability in Denmark

"In 2009, as a result of a request from the Ministry of Health, Local Government Denmark looked into the prevalence of syringe exchange schemes in the various municipalities in Denmark. In its report, Local Government Denmark concluded that the number of drug abusers who have access to clean syringes and needles is high. The reason is that all the large municipalities that have a relatively large number of drug abusers hand-out clean "tools". The survey has not been broken down on a local level, but Local Government Denmark has found that it provides a useful picture of local practice.
"The hand-out of syringes and needles typically takes place via treatment institutions, the local pharmacies, drop-in centres or shelters. In some places, vending machines have been installed.
"The municipalities are not legally bound to dispense syringes and needles to drug abusers. However, most of the municipalities have a practice for doing so. Expenses for handing out clean tools are financed by the municipalities. Via the social reserve fund agreement for 2004, the municipalities are compensated with EUR 107,000 per year for the hand-out of water ampoules together with the syringe kit which is already being dispensed."