With well over a thousand drug related deaths in scotland last year more than double the number in 2008 1 and hiv infection spreading among drug injectors the scottish government charities and some mps are calling for the introduction of drug consumption rooms dcrs these are safe sterile places where people with dependency may inject their own drugs under medical supervision.
Safe injecting rooms debate against.
Melbourne lord mayor robert doyle is strongly against establishing a drug consumption room.
While some like in vancouver have been in place since the early 90s most are very new and there is relatively little data showing how they impact their surrounding neighborhoods.
On the other hand the opponents of safe injection sites vehemently insist that these sites cause roadblocks in the battle against addiction.
Murray seattle gov a safe injection site is a room set aside to allow intravenous drug users to inject themselves under medical supervision.
Actually there are all sorts of major problems with these sorts of proposals.
The case for drug consumption rooms is now extremely strong and the case against them is remarkably weak.
The facilities offer health care counseling and referral to social services for drug abuse.
The injecting room is not safe for those who are not users and it and should be shut down.
Specifically they believe that they are a benefit to public health and the community.
It s saved lives and for some people such as drug users like steve the injecting room has been a godsend.
The proponents of safe injection sites feel that the sites are a welcome addition to the fight against addiction.
As i wrote back in 2012.
Cons of safe injection sites.
Will safe injecting rooms save lives.
Others say the streets are less safe and are strewn with dirty needles and worse.
The case against heroin injecting rooms is quite simple.
Medically supervised injecting centres save lives and this is a fact dr dunn says.
Given the amount of heroin related overdoses in victoria in 2016 dr dunn is steadfast in his stance that a sir in melbourne would save lives not promote drug use.
Opening safe injection sites for intravenous drug user s helps reduce health and societal risks associated with drug injections.
Arguments against safe injection sites are as follows.
Arguments for the availability of safe injecting rooms believe that even though these facilities may not eradicate drug taking they can make the process less harmful to both the drug users and the public and thus can be a beneficial strategy in the war against drugs.