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| 'Fix rooms' plan for Glasgow drug addicts set for green light | 'Fix rooms' plan for Glasgow drug addicts set for green light |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A controversial plan to set up so-called "fix rooms" to allow drug addicts to inject safely under supervision in Glasgow is likely to get the go-ahead. | A controversial plan to set up so-called "fix rooms" to allow drug addicts to inject safely under supervision in Glasgow is likely to get the go-ahead. |
| Members of the health board, the city council and police are expected to agree the idea in principle. | |
| The move aims to address the problems caused by an estimated 500 or so users who inject on Glasgow's streets. | The move aims to address the problems caused by an estimated 500 or so users who inject on Glasgow's streets. |
| A plan for "heroin-assisted treatment" is also likely to get the green light. | A plan for "heroin-assisted treatment" is also likely to get the green light. |
| Under that proposal, users would be given medical-grade heroin to inject under supervision. | Under that proposal, users would be given medical-grade heroin to inject under supervision. |
| The proposals are due to be considered by the Glasgow City Integration Joint Board. | The proposals are due to be considered by the Glasgow City Integration Joint Board. |
| The case for opening an injecting facility for drug users in the city was examined by the Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) - a multi-agency group tasked by the Scottish government with tackling alcohol and drug issues. | The case for opening an injecting facility for drug users in the city was examined by the Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) - a multi-agency group tasked by the Scottish government with tackling alcohol and drug issues. |
| If such a facility were approved, it would be the first of its kind in the UK. | If such a facility were approved, it would be the first of its kind in the UK. |
| Similar schemes operate in 10 other countries, including Australia, Germany, France and Switzerland. | |
| It would mean extending existing opioid substitution therapy services to include heroin-assisted treatment and developing a peer support network for harm reduction. | It would mean extending existing opioid substitution therapy services to include heroin-assisted treatment and developing a peer support network for harm reduction. |
| ADP argues that those who inject on the streets are responsible for the majority of discarded needles which pose a health risk and contribute to public order problems. | ADP argues that those who inject on the streets are responsible for the majority of discarded needles which pose a health risk and contribute to public order problems. |
| It also says street users experience problems such as homelessness, mental health issues and poverty, and are at heightened risk of blood-borne viruses, overdose and drug-related death, as well as other injecting-related complications. | It also says street users experience problems such as homelessness, mental health issues and poverty, and are at heightened risk of blood-borne viruses, overdose and drug-related death, as well as other injecting-related complications. |
| The Scottish Drugs Forum, a drugs policy and information organisation, has estimated there about 90 similar injecting facilities operating around the world, most of them in Europe. | The Scottish Drugs Forum, a drugs policy and information organisation, has estimated there about 90 similar injecting facilities operating around the world, most of them in Europe. |
| Recently a Paris hospital started housing France's first "shooting gallery" - a safe place where drug addicts can inject under medical supervision. | Recently a Paris hospital started housing France's first "shooting gallery" - a safe place where drug addicts can inject under medical supervision. |
| The drug room was opened by the Paris mayor and health minister near the Gare du Nord, a busy station where drug crime is common. | The drug room was opened by the Paris mayor and health minister near the Gare du Nord, a busy station where drug crime is common. |
| Switzerland model | Switzerland model |
| Dr Emilia Crighton, director of public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and vice-chair of the ADP, said the organisation had looked at expert evidence from around in the world. | Dr Emilia Crighton, director of public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and vice-chair of the ADP, said the organisation had looked at expert evidence from around in the world. |
| She added: "Nowadays we see that actually that most of Europe is providing addiction services. | She added: "Nowadays we see that actually that most of Europe is providing addiction services. |
| "There are safe consumption rooms - Switzerland has a model where there is heroin-assisted treatment and opiates-replacement treatment that satisfies the needs of the population. | "There are safe consumption rooms - Switzerland has a model where there is heroin-assisted treatment and opiates-replacement treatment that satisfies the needs of the population. |
| "So we really have to find a solution that brings the solutions elsewhere in the world to Glasgow." | "So we really have to find a solution that brings the solutions elsewhere in the world to Glasgow." |
| Kirsten Horsburgh, from the Scottish Drugs Forum, said: "When we look at our rising numbers of drug-related deaths, if we are really serious about reducing the harms associated with problematic drug use then we need to be using all types of services, all evidence-based approaches to making sure that we can try and reduce the harms caused by problem drug use. | Kirsten Horsburgh, from the Scottish Drugs Forum, said: "When we look at our rising numbers of drug-related deaths, if we are really serious about reducing the harms associated with problematic drug use then we need to be using all types of services, all evidence-based approaches to making sure that we can try and reduce the harms caused by problem drug use. |
| "We already provide sterile injecting equipment. Providing a sterile environment in which people can use drugs is an obvious and necessary next step." | "We already provide sterile injecting equipment. Providing a sterile environment in which people can use drugs is an obvious and necessary next step." |
| The initial details of the Glasgow proposals have still to be worked out, including how much the so-called fix rooms would cost, where they would be and how they would operate. | The initial details of the Glasgow proposals have still to be worked out, including how much the so-called fix rooms would cost, where they would be and how they would operate. |