Two pilot projects are currently running which focus on sexual health screening of drug users within two differing settings; Ancoats Needle Exchange Clinic and the Smithfield Centre. The Smithfield Centre is an in-patient detoxification service serving mainly Manchester drug and alcohol dependent individuals. The aims of this pilot are to ascertain whether there is a need to implement sexual health screening as part of risk reduction strategies within substance misuse services. The basis for this is built upon an assumption that many substance misusing individuals do not access mainstream or specialist services for health issues not directly related to their substance misuse and that risk taking behaviours are increased as a result of their substance misuse.

The pilot project will be due for completion in early 2008.