Claims extracted
22
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
5%
1 of 22 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
68/100
ABC News (AU)'s corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Health
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Needle and syringe programs (NSPs) established to stem the spread of blood-borne viruses, including HIV, are struggling with an "enormous surge" in peptide use, with social media influencers suggesting people access free syringes at the harm minimisation charities.
asserted
people → establish → charities
Directions Health Services in Canberra is funded by the ACT government to offer safe injecting equipment to drug users but says it has had to limit the stock it can give clients due to an increased demand from peptide-users.
asserted
it → fund → users
Directions Health Services chief executive Stephanie Stephens said for the past decade, NSPs had predominantly helped those seeking to inject heroin or amphetamine.
asserted
NSPs → say → heroin
"But in the past year … we've seen an enormous surge in people accessing sharps and needles to administer peptides," Ms Stephens said.
asserted
Stephens → see → peptides
"Month-by-month we see an increase."
asserted
we → see → increase
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that make up proteins in our bodies.
asserted
that → make → bodies
There are a number of peptide-based medicines that are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), but many other products are unregulated.
asserted
products → be → Administration
"I think a core thing with the peptide interest is this wish [for people] to have a quick solution, a bit of a silver bullet whether it's to weight loss, to beauty, to recovery,"Ms Stephens said.
asserted
Stephens → think → beauty
"And while we love responding to new community groups and people who we can work with to reduce harms — and there are unique harms associated with peptide use — we're also concerned about the pressure that puts on our supply.
asserted
that → love → supply
We know that people are often buying these unregulated peptides through social media, so if they're in a position to also be buying the sharps, the syringes they need … we'd suggest they take that course of action."
asserted
they → know → action
She said NSPs needed to preserve their stock for "marginalised communities, such as [intravenous] drug users."
asserted
NSPs → say → users
Suppliers can't meet stock orders
asserted
Suppliers → meet → orders
The service is able to gauge the rise in peptide use because staff ask clients what the last drug they injected was.
asserted
they → gauge → clients
NSP team leader Tammy Waters said most people were "really honest".
asserted
people → say → ?
"They tell us if they're using steroids, peptides, heroin, ice, or anything … [but] they don't have to answer,"she said.
asserted
they → tell → steroids
Ms Waters said staff at the service build a strong rapport with clients, who were able to present anonymously.
asserted
who → say → clients
"Sometimes they don't even come in for equipment; they come in because they feel it's a safe place to come, they feel they can talk to us … to not be judged, stigmatised," she said.
asserted
she → come → us
She said NSPs also have food, clothing, and can link people with other health services.
asserted
NSPs → say → services
Ms Waters said the uptick in peptide use had put pressure on NSPs nationwide, with suppliers unable to fulfil orders.
asserted
suppliers → say → orders
"[Our supplier] can't give us as much of the stock as I actually order," she said.
asserted
she → give → stock
Directions Health Services has also seen an increase in the cost to safely remove and dispose of the clinical waste.
asserted
Services → see → waste
The service said a typical syringe could cost between 15 cents and $1, and it was able to help people who do have the means to buy the equipment by sharing a list of places to purchase.
uncertain
who → say → places
The Aporia