Call to put ‘safe rooms’ for drug addicts in high streets

DRUG addicts should get town centre “safe rooms” where they can legally inject themselves to prevent rising death rates, says the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP).

In an article for The Telegraph website, Dr Adrian James, the RCP’s president, throws its weight behind what are colloquially known as “shooting galleries” or “fix rooms” where addicts could safely take drugs under medical supervision and receive treatment.

Dr James urged the Government to consider the scheme as part of a wider move to treat drug addiction as a health problem rather than purely criminalise people reliant on heroin, cocaine or other illicit substances.

It marks a significant intervention in the drugs debate as the Government considers proposals for an overhaul of treatment following a review by Dame Carol Black commissioned by Sajid Javid, when he was home secretary.

Her review estimated that there were 300,000 opiate or crack users in England, and around one million taking cocaine per year. It found that the illicit drugs market in the UK is worth £9.4 billion a year, but costs society more than double that figure.

The latest figures show that the number of drug-related deaths has hit a record high of 4,393 in 2019, following eight successive years of increases.

Dr James said Dame Carol’s review

‘Thousands needlessly die every year because of poor treatment provision caused by years of drastic cuts’

offered a “once-in-a-generation” chance to overhaul treatment services.

“The potential role of Safe Consumption Rooms in reducing harms associated with drug use should be considered,” he wrote. “These could significantly reduce the chances of someone overdosing.

“Thousands needlessly die every year because of poor treatment provision caused by years of drastic cuts. The Government must grasp this once-in-ageneration opportunity … and build the foundation for humane and comprehensive addiction treatment.”