The 1st official DCR opened in Berne (Switzerland) in 1986. There are now 90 of these facilities, mainly throughout Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Spain, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark), 1 in Australia (Sydney’s SMSIC), 1 in Canada (Vancouver’s Insite). There is irrefutable evidence of their effectiveness in keeping people Alive, Healthier & Engaging with treatment services.
In February 2012, I will be presenting at the Joint Commissioning Group here in Birmingham a proposal for the opening of a “Safe Consumption Room” in our City.
A friend & I have made a documentary with key interviewees taking part (current & ex street injectors, members of the public, hostel staff, a nurse, a Birmingham GP with over 30 years experience in working with IDUs as well as Professor Robert Hemmig & Jakob Huber from Berne). The new drug strategy has a strong emphasis on “Recovery”. What is Recovery? What happens to the people that don’t want “Recovery”? Are not “ready” for “Recovery”? The UK has 1 of the highest rate of Drug Related Deaths in Europe. Over half of Birmingham IDUs are HCV +. The damage created through street injecting, which I witness every week at the Pharmacy based Needle Exchanges, is deeply saddening and worrying. Last year in Birmingham, 3 people died Every Month from heroin overdoses.
What are your views on Drug Consumption Rooms? Is there a need for them in the UK? Should they be piloted?
I live in the US and this DRC concept would NEVER fly! The US still thinks the drug war is one that can be fought. The idea itself is not the problem…it’s the logistics. Nobody wants a user room in their neighborhood and who will staff these facilities? There are some very real ethical dilemmas to consider, but what a great opportunity for…[Read more]
Drug consumption rooms Evidence and practice: This briefing paper provides a short summary of the background, history and objectives of DCRs, and analyses available evidence regarding their impact. The second part of the briefing paper consists of an overview of the various DCRs in different countries, with a particular focus on the concepts used…[Read more]
Denmark Legalizes Consumption Rooms. A majority of Danish MPs have voted in favour of a bill that makes it legal to consume illicit drugs within supervised facilities that the law classifies as “safe drug consumption rooms”. Denmark is the first country to have passed legislation to regulate the operation of such facilities. …[Read more]
Had a good day editing (Luke did all the tech stuff of course!) our last bit of filming for our Drug Consumption Room documentary. Got interviews with Jakob Huber (director of ContactNetz & founder of the 1 st DCR in Berne) Robert Hemmig (MD, psychiatrist & psychotherapist, president of the Swiss Society for Addiction Medicines who works with…[Read more]
Saw your documentary – excellent work
