Supervised injection site

Supervised injection site (also known as drug consumption rooms (DCRs), safe injection sites, fix rooms, and supervised injection facilities (SIFs)) are legally sanctioned, medically supervised facilities designed to address public health issues associated with drug use. They are part of a harm reduction approach towards drug problems. The facilities provide sterile injection equipment, information about drugs and basic health care, treatment referrals, and access to medical staff. Some offer counseling, hygienic amenities, and other services.

History

The first supervised drug consumption room was opened in Berne, Switzerland in June 1986. Other cities and states in Europe have followed suit and a number of supervised injection sites are now operating in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Luxembourg, and France. In Australia, a supervised injection site trial in the Sydney suburb of Kings Cross was launched in 2001. In North America, San Francisco has been considering opening a supervised injection site for years and in Canada, Vancouver's Insite was the first facility in North America to be granted an exemption to federal drug laws, allowing it to operate.

Effectiveness

Research has shown that the use of supervised injection sites results in a decrease in public drug use, public injecting, and discarded needles. It also leads to an increase in the use of detoxification services and addiction treatment among users. A 2014 review found evidence of a decrease in drug-related harms, but stated that more high-quality research is needed.

Criticism

Critics of supervised injection sites argue that these facilities condone illicit drug use and can increase drug-related crime rates in the areas where they are located. They also argue that these sites may put the surrounding community at risk and that they divert resources that could be better spent on other forms of treatment.

See also

• Harm reduction
• Drug liberalization
• Drug policy reform
• Drug policy of the Netherlands
• Drug policy of Portugal
• Insite
• War on Drugs

References

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