Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
18th April 2013, 11:13
Greens-led initiative, I'm guessing. What are your thoughts on these rooms? Should the objective of the left (or indeed society as a whole) be to focus on getting users off drugs for their own sake and others or to safe-guard users from harm whilst they exercise their right to do what they want with their own bodies?
Brighton could become the first city in the UK to provide rooms where people would be able to use illegal drugs safely without the fear of prosecution.
Their use is one of the recommendations in an independent report commissioned by Brighton and Hove City Council.
The aim would be to reduce drug-related deaths in a city described as having had "a drug abuse problem for decades".
But critics said the move could amount to colluding with poor lifestyle choices, or even illegal behaviour.
Sussex Police welcomed the report but emphasised the importance of a "holistic approach" to illegal drugs.
The research by the Independent Drugs Commission for Brighton and Hove proposes providing consumption rooms - often referred to as shooting galleries - where people could use their own illegal drugs under the supervision of professional healthcare workers.
They would provide medical care if required.
The intention is to reduce the risk of overdoses and other drug-related deaths, as well as decreasing the amount of drug-taking on the streets of Brighton.
It also suggests making Naloxone, a prescription drug which can prevent fatal overdoses, directly available to users.
Services for young drug takers should also be separated, according to the report, to prevent them mixing with older, more established users.
Mike Trace, vice-chairman of the commission, told BBC Radio 4's Today: "We have said to the authorities in Brighton that you need to look at this because it's something that could reduce drug-related deaths - which is an issue in the city - but also because it could take a lot of public drug use and drug markets off the street."
He said there were various models that could be adopted - for example drugs provided by medical professionals, or users buying illegal drugs and using them in the rooms.
But there was a "grey area" over whether a law change would be required for this sort of service, he said.
Councillor Rob Jarrett, chairman of the council's adult care and health committee, said the area had had a problem with drug abuse "for decades" and the council would take the recommendations "very seriously".
Full article here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22188476
Brighton could become the first city in the UK to provide rooms where people would be able to use illegal drugs safely without the fear of prosecution.
Their use is one of the recommendations in an independent report commissioned by Brighton and Hove City Council.
The aim would be to reduce drug-related deaths in a city described as having had "a drug abuse problem for decades".
But critics said the move could amount to colluding with poor lifestyle choices, or even illegal behaviour.
Sussex Police welcomed the report but emphasised the importance of a "holistic approach" to illegal drugs.
The research by the Independent Drugs Commission for Brighton and Hove proposes providing consumption rooms - often referred to as shooting galleries - where people could use their own illegal drugs under the supervision of professional healthcare workers.
They would provide medical care if required.
The intention is to reduce the risk of overdoses and other drug-related deaths, as well as decreasing the amount of drug-taking on the streets of Brighton.
It also suggests making Naloxone, a prescription drug which can prevent fatal overdoses, directly available to users.
Services for young drug takers should also be separated, according to the report, to prevent them mixing with older, more established users.
Mike Trace, vice-chairman of the commission, told BBC Radio 4's Today: "We have said to the authorities in Brighton that you need to look at this because it's something that could reduce drug-related deaths - which is an issue in the city - but also because it could take a lot of public drug use and drug markets off the street."
He said there were various models that could be adopted - for example drugs provided by medical professionals, or users buying illegal drugs and using them in the rooms.
But there was a "grey area" over whether a law change would be required for this sort of service, he said.
Councillor Rob Jarrett, chairman of the council's adult care and health committee, said the area had had a problem with drug abuse "for decades" and the council would take the recommendations "very seriously".
Full article here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22188476