Black-market peptide surge pushes syringe sites to brink

Black-market peptide surge pushes syringe sites to brink by straining Australia’s needle and syringe programs with a sharp shift in client demand. Services built during the HIV response in the heroin era are now seeing peptide-focused injection equipment shortages, particularly for thinner-tipped needles used for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. At cohealth, about 20% of visitors to its needle and syringe program this year have been using performance- and image-enhancing drugs, up from roughly 5% to 8% over the past decade, with some services reporting peptide users as up to 40% of clients. Andrea Fischer, cohealth director, said urgent resourcing is needed to expand storage, extend opening hours, and create services in high-need areas, along with improved GP referral pathways. Barwon Health and Uniting Alcohol and Drug Services reported similar impacts, including service activity driven by peptides and rapid increases in syringe distribution in Melbourne.