Needle exchange schemes are a great idea. They permit drug use to be monitored, prevent disease transmission by needle sharing, and reduce dramatically the incidence of discarded needles causing problems in the community.

Regrettably, and perhaps understandably, some residents can’t see past those benefits and would prefer that any needle exchange scheme was in someone else’s back yard. Still others object simply to public money, their money, being spent to support the evils of drug abuse. That is their opinion, but if in no other that a purely financial way they should realise that they have got the equation entirely wrong.

These local residents are perhaps in the former group, but still take to the streets to oppose a local needle exchange scheme – even one that doesn’t exist!

Read more at the Swindon Advertiser