{news} UK: Heroin Addicts Could Inject Themselves at Supervised Centres in Police-Backed Plans

[clifford thornton]

Newshawk: JimmyG
Pubdate: Tue, 23 May 2006
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact: letters at guardian.co.uk<mailto:letters at guardian.co.uk>
Website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/<http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/>
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175<http://www.mapinc.org/media/175>
Author: Rosie Cowan and John Carvel, The Guardian
Note: See http://www.jrf.org.uk/pressroom/releases/230506.asp<http://www.jrf.org.uk/pressroom/releases/230506.asp>
Cited: DrugScope http://www.drugscope.org.uk/<http://www.drugscope.org.uk/>
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142<http://www.mapinc.org/find?142> (Safe Injecting Rooms)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm<http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm> (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm<http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm> (Heroin)

HEROIN ADDICTS COULD INJECT THEMSELVES AT SUPERVISED CENTRES IN 
POLICE-BACKED PLANS

UK Has Most Drug-Related Deaths in Europe

Home Office to Decide on Whether to Adopt Findings

Police chiefs have backed proposals which could see heroin addicts
injecting themselves in officially sanctioned centres.

An independent working group, tasked by the Joseph Rowntree
Foundation, will today recommend the introduction of supervised drug
consumption rooms to the UK, so that users could take illegal drugs in
safe, hygienic surroundings.

Members of the group included Andy Hayman, a Scotland Yard assistant
commissioner who also chairs the Association of Chief Police Officers'
drugs portfolio, and his Acpo colleague, Met police detective
superintendent Kevin Green.

The report has been sent to the Home Office, which will consider
whether to adopt its findings.

The UK has had the highest number of drug-related deaths in Europe
since 1996 - 1,388 in England and Wales in 2003 - while up to 40% of
heroin users experience non-fatal overdoses at some stage.

Many robberies and much antisocial behaviour is drug-related, and
discarded syringes present a big risk of infection. A large number of
addicts are homeless, and tens of thousands of injections are carried
out in public every month in England alone.

There are 65 drug consumption rooms (DCRs) in eight countries
worldwide, including Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Australia and
Canada, and the working group, which visited some of these during its
20-month research period, believe they reduce the risk of harm to the
individual as well as the costs to society.

Unlike so-called "shooting galleries", which are largely unsupervised
and where drugs are often purchased, or premises where prescribed
heroin is available, users would bring their own drugs to DCRs, and
although supervisors would not be able to intervene, they could advise
and give immediate assistance if a user collapsed.

The initial pilot proposal is for injection facilities, but European
countries are increasingly adding smoking rooms, where heroin and
crack cocaine can be smoked.

Four years ago, the Home Office rejected similar recommendations from
the home affairs select committee. But Dame Ruth Runciman, the
chairwoman of the independent working group, hoped the government
would now reconsider. "The Home Office rightly said in 2002 that there
was not enough evaluated evidence from drug consumption rooms abroad,"
said Dame Ruth. "There has been a lot more evidence since. There have
been millions of injections in drug rooms abroad and only one death,
which was not due to an overdose."

She suggested the consumption rooms could be run by local authorities,
the NHS and voluntary bodies, but added: "Most importantly and without
question, they must involve the police."

She said the two police officers on the working group supported the
group's findings as individuals, but she was aware there would be a
range of reactions among the police.

An Acpo spokeswoman admitted: "There are reservations across the
police service regarding the report's proposals. However, Acpo is
eager to be part of the discussion to ensure the police perspective is
considered and will continue to engage in dialogue with all those involved.

"The report provides much food for thought in trying to reconcile
illegal drug consumption with trying to reduce the harm such
dependency causes the individual and those affected by discarded drugs
paraphernalia in public places."

Dame Ruth firmly rejected the idea that DCRs would create "honeypots"
for dealers and crime. "It's clear that drug consumption rooms do not
have a honeypot effect," she said. "They attract almost entirely local
users because people don't travel long distances. They want to inject
quickly."

She said evidence from abroad suggested that provision of drug
consumption rooms reduced the public nuisance of large numbers of
discarded needles in public places. The issue was controversial and
made "governments institutionally nervous" but rational debate could
do a great deal to mitigate public hostility. "Areas that suffer from
injecting have a great deal to gain," she added.

Welcoming the report, chief executive of the drugs education charity
DrugScope, Martin Barnes said: "The international evidence in favour
of piloting drug consumption rooms in the UK is strong and persuasive
and we particularly welcome the emphasis on local agency working and
engaging with local communities."

A BBC poll found yesterday that three out of four people thought
illegal drugs were a problem in their local area and 53% thought the
police should be doing more to tackle it. 


Cliff
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