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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 |
(35 minutes later) | |
A controversial plan to set up the UK's first 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. | 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, Holland and Switzerland. | Similar schemes operate in 10 other countries, including Australia, Germany, France, Holland 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 (SDF), 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 (SDF), 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. |
The SDF said the rooms would provide a sterile environment where people could use drugs safely. | The SDF said the rooms would provide a sterile environment where people could use drugs safely. |
The forum's director David Liddell told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme there was a "desperate need" for them, particularly in Glasgow where there is an HIV outbreak among drugs users. | The forum's director David Liddell told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme there was a "desperate need" for them, particularly in Glasgow where there is an HIV outbreak among drugs users. |
"I know it's been highlighted as controversial, but when you see that these have been running in many countries in Europe for a long time - Holland for example now has 31 drug consumption rooms and Germany has 24," he said. | "I know it's been highlighted as controversial, but when you see that these have been running in many countries in Europe for a long time - Holland for example now has 31 drug consumption rooms and Germany has 24," he said. |
"These are in addition to the existing provision. The key point is we have people who are mostly long-term users - people have been using for more than 20 years or more. Abstinence recovery is not on their immediate horizon. | "These are in addition to the existing provision. The key point is we have people who are mostly long-term users - people have been using for more than 20 years or more. Abstinence recovery is not on their immediate horizon. |
"The most immediate thing for these individuals is the need to keep them alive so they can recover in the future." | "The most immediate thing for these individuals is the need to keep them alive so they can recover in the future." |
'Real danger' | 'Real danger' |
But Prof Neil McKeganey, founder of the Centre of Drug Misuse Research, said Mr Liddell was "quite wrong" to imply the rooms were not controversial. | But Prof Neil McKeganey, founder of the Centre of Drug Misuse Research, said Mr Liddell was "quite wrong" to imply the rooms were not controversial. |
"For anyone who's not an advocate of drugs de-criminalisation they are controversial and they will be seen as such," he told the BBC. | "For anyone who's not an advocate of drugs de-criminalisation they are controversial and they will be seen as such," he told the BBC. |
"Some years ago, we surveyed over 1,000 drug addicts in Scotland and we asked them what they wanted to get from treatment. | "Some years ago, we surveyed over 1,000 drug addicts in Scotland and we asked them what they wanted to get from treatment. |
"Less than 5% said they wanted to help to inject more safely and the overwhelming majority said they wanted help to become drugs free. These facilities have a role to play but there is a real danger here we are moving steadily away from services to get addicts off drugs." | "Less than 5% said they wanted to help to inject more safely and the overwhelming majority said they wanted help to become drugs free. These facilities have a role to play but there is a real danger here we are moving steadily away from services to get addicts off drugs." |
Dr Emilia Crighton, director of public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and vice-chairwoman 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-chairwoman 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." |
How many discarded syringes have been found where you live? | |
More than 3,900 discarded needles were reported in nine of Scotland's largest towns and cities over two years. | |
The figure was revealed by a series of freedom of information requests to the local authorities covering Aberdeen, Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamilton, Kirkcaldy, Livingston, and Paisley. | |
You can see where the estimated 3,909 discarded needles were reported, as well as a description of where they were found, using the INTERACTIVE MAP developed by BBC Scotland. |