A needle exchange service in Belfast will close on 2 November because the charity running it is losing its city centre premises on Royal Avenue. The service, operated by Extern, provided clean needles and syringes to people who inject drugs, along with a wound-dressing service, advice on accessing temporary accommodation and healthcare, and safe disposal of used needles.

Extern's building is to be redeveloped as part of the Belfast Stories project, and the charity has searched for over a year for an alternative site in the city centre. The search was assisted by Belfast City Council, the Public Health Agency, the Department of Health, and landlords, but no new location has been found.

Mal Byrne, Extern's director of harm reduction and mental health services, said that users of the service are members of the community and that for many, the service was one of the few places where they could ask for help without judgement. He added that with the closure, "that door is now closed until a space is secured to operate from."

Byrne said that losing the premises means vulnerable people will have nowhere to go to access harm reduction advice, healthcare support, and practical assistance. He described the service as life-saving and said the work will be suspended. He also warned that the closure may lead to more visible substance use and an increase in drug-related litter in the city centre.

Extern said it suspects there are between 1,000 and 1,500 people in Belfast experiencing difficulties with their drug use at any one time. Last year, almost 20,000 used needles were safely returned to the Royal Avenue premises. The charity's city centre outreach team removed more than 13,000 discarded needles from Belfast's streets, an increase of roughly 20% from previous years.

Independent councillor Paul McCusker, who has lobbied the council to explore alternative locations, warned the closure puts vulnerable people at even greater risk. He said Belfast is in the midst of a drug epidemic, but the political response has not reflected the scale of the crisis. He added that needle exchanges play a vital role in reducing harm, allowing drug support workers to engage with individuals, build trust, minimise health risks, and refer people to treatment.

The Public Health Agency commissions charities and pharmacies to deliver the Enhanced Needle and Syringe Exchange Service across Northern Ireland. In 2024-2025, a total of 32,667 transactions were recorded, an increase of 7.4% on the previous year. About 721,000 needles and syringes were given out, up 7.5% year on year. The PHA said needle exchange sites are located in areas with existing injecting behaviour, and that providing services locally is vital because people who inject substances are often vulnerable and may be in poor health or dealing with complex social issues.