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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,504
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Heroin addicts could inject themselves at supervised centres [UK]
#5662212 - 05/22/06 10:20 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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This might be a good idea here in the USA also...
Heroin addicts could inject themselves at supervised centres in police-backed plans May 23, 2006 - guardian.co.uk
· 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.
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OJK
Stranger

Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
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Re: Heroin addicts could inject themselves at supervised centres [UK] [Re: veggie]
#5663050 - 05/23/06 05:14 AM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Swiss injection rooms lead the way May 23, 2006 - news.bbc.co.uk
Heroin injection rooms may be a radical idea in Britain but in Switzerland they have become standard.
They were first introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s in response to rising levels of HIV infection among intravenous drug users and as an attempt to control Switzerland's notorious "open" drugs scene, where heroin addicts took their drugs in city parks and squares.
The Swiss government also has a strong drug abuse prevention programme, but says the injection rooms are there to help the addicts for whom everything else has failed.
Berne's heroin injection room is in the heart of the city, and it is a busy place.
At the entrance is a counter dispensing needles, syringes, sterile water, and antiseptic swabs.
"We give out 1,500 needles every day," explains Ines Buerger, the social worker in charge of the injection room.
"And people bring their used needles back."
As she speaks, one woman arrives and dumps at least 30 used needles and syringes into the disposal bin.
Medical help
Addicts don't have to take their heroin in the injection room however, they can just pick up clean needles and leave again. But they are encouraged to use the room rather than go back on the streets.
Three people at a time are allowed into the room, which means a queue often forms between it and the needle dispensary.
Inside a nurse is on hand; she will help addicts find a vein if they need that, but she is also there to offer medical advice and treatment.
"We are here to offer treatment for all the different ailments addicts get," Ms Buerger said. "A doctor comes once a week too."
In fact, injection room is not really the right way to describe the facility, it is actually more of a centre.
Addicts can get a shower, there is a small restaurant providing nutritious food, and even a corner with comfortable armchairs and table football.
But perhaps the most important thing the centre provides, apart from the clean needles, is psychiatric support.
Most doctors who treat long-term addicts agree there is always a point when an addict is ready to give up heroin, and there are staff here to watch for those signs, to counsel, and to refer patients for therapy.
"We know all the clinics in the region which have vacancies," Ms Buerger explained. "So we can advise addicts on the best place for them, and refer them."
"Some of these addicts have already tried more than 10 times to come off heroin. They need their drugs, and they can't stop just like that." Ines Buerger - Social worker
But Ms Buerger admits that getting people off drugs is not the primary aim of the centre; instead the real goal is harm reduction.
"Of course it is great if we can refer people to a rehabilitation clinic," she said.
"But the point is some of these addicts have already tried more than 10 times to come off heroin. They need their drugs, and they can't stop just like that.
"We know from experience that if we weren't here they would still take heroin, but out on the streets. What we are trying to do is help them survive this phase of addiction."
Social order
There are injection centres in nearly every Swiss town and city now. Smaller villages often have dispensing machines with clean needles and syringes, and many chemists will also exchange clean needles for used ones.
Initial public concern that the policy was tantamount to official support for drug abuse has virtually evaporated in the face of evidence that HIV infection rates among drug users have stabilised.
In addition, neighbourhoods once blighted by the open drugs scene were largely cleaned up as more addicts began to use the injection rooms.
The Swiss police support the policy too; they are under orders to prosecute addicts injecting openly in public but will also point heroin users in the direction of the nearest injection room.
So while other countries continue to debate the pros and cons of injection rooms, in Switzerland they seem here to stay.
For many ordinary people the biggest argument in favour of them is that they have proved they contribute to something very dear to Swiss hearts: social order.
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Trav
Stranger

Registered: 06/09/05
Posts: 1,826
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Re: Heroin addicts could inject themselves at supervised centres [UK] [Re: OJK]
#5663254 - 05/23/06 08:04 AM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Very interesting articles, the injection centers seem like a success in Switzerland.
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