Nurse Anna Bergsjö sets up a table with clean needles, sterile water, condoms and much more.
She does that every week when the syringe exchange program receives addicts at the infection department at Sunderby Hospital.
- We hand out clean syringes, but we also do a lot of other things.
We vaccinate them, take care of wounds and we talk to them, she says.
Should be easier to get the right help
But the staff has long felt that they would need to be able to offer the patient group more than clean syringes and infection care.
Now it looks like their wish will come true.
Next week they will move into the psychiatry's premises and begin a collaboration with the Addiction Center.
- We will continue to hand out clean syringes and take care of wounds.
But we hope that the collaboration will also give patients an easier path to other professions such as psychological help, social support and motivational talks, says Susanne Hansson Frölander, head of the infection clinic.
Want it to be introduced in more places
Norrbotten's only syringe exchange clinic is today in Luleå, at Sunderby Hospital. What do you think about it?
- I would like to see it introduced in more places.
I think first and foremost of our hospital locations, such as Gällivare, says Anna Bergsjö, infectious disease nurse.
Follow along to the syringe exchange reception in the clip above.