Needle Exchange Programs Worried About Peptide Trend

By Jordan Bissell

Topic: Health

Thursday, 6 August 2026, at 5:43 am

More people who use peptides are going to needle exchange programs.

In short:

Needle exchange programs are worried because more people are using peptides, and this might mean there won't be enough needles for people who really need them.

The head of the Queensland Injectors Health Network, Geoff Davey, says there are more peptide users at needle exchange programs than before.

Experts are happy some peptide users are getting health advice, but they're worried about those who aren't.

Experts say the increase in peptide use is leaving needle exchange programs without enough needles for people who inject drugs.

The Queensland Injectors Health Network started to stop the spread of HIV and hepatitis in 1988.

It's becoming a national trend for peptide users to get supplies from exchange programs.

These injectable drugs are not approved in Australia, but they're advertised on social media.

Geoff Davey from QuIHN says there are more peptide users at needle exchange programs than last year.

In November and December, the number of peptide users went up. This is not just a local problem; it's happening all over the country.

Different kinds of people are using peptides for various reasons, like losing weight or feeling better.

We're also seeing people go to emergency rooms with liver problems.

Geoff Davey is the head of the Queensland Injectors Health Network.

In Victoria, six cases were linked to a peptide called retratrutide.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that make up proteins in our bodies. There are peptide medicines approved by the government.

Do you know more about this?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that make up proteins.

Some peptides are not approved for human use and are sold online. These are the ones that are popular now.

Experts who help people with eating disorders are worried about unregulated peptides being used in gym communities.

Many unregulated peptides come from other countries and promise big changes in the body. Social media influencers talk about how well they work.

Mary Harrod, from the Needle Users and AIDS Association, says this trend is very worrying.

She says it's like a big experiment with no real response.

Mary Harrod is the head of the Needle Users and AIDS Association.

Her organization will struggle to pay employees and keep up with the demand for needles and syringes.

They need to give out 500,000 needles and syringes, but now they need two million. They can't keep up with this demand.

They might have to let some employees go to afford the needles and syringes.

Needle exchange programs are struggling to keep up with the demand.

Experts are glad some peptide users are getting health advice, but they're worried about those who aren't.

It's better for people to go to organizations that help reduce harm because they can get good advice without being judged.

Mary Harrod is also worried that people who inject drugs might not have safe equipment.

It's especially hard in rural areas where vending machines give out needles and syringes.

These machines are often empty within an hour or two of being filled.

New needles and syringes are stored in vending machines at exchange programs.

There are reports of more people sharing syringes.

This program has been very successful in keeping HIV from spreading. It has saved many lives and millions of dollars.

The whole program is at risk because of the increased demand.

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