Dorset backing for introduction of supervised drug consumption rooms

Martyn Underhill was one of several PCCs who recently wrote to home secretary Sajid Javid in support of the scheme.

The treatment rooms allow drug users to inject in a safe environment, with sterilised equipment and medical help. It is claimed that the facilities have an international track record of reducing overdose deaths, whilst helping reduce needle littering and problems associated with public drug use.

“We have woken up to the fact that people will continue to take drugs, and rather than burying our heads in the sand we need to take a much more pragmatic approach,” Mr Underhill wrote.

“We need to recognise that the way we’ve been trying to tackle drug use for decades has not worked. Drug consumption rooms may well be an important part of the solution.”

However, BCP Council said there is currently no legislation enabling the implementation of such rooms by local authorities.

Councillor Lesley Dedman, BCP Council portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said: “We are aware of the police crime commissioner’s recommendation to allow drug consumption rooms and that Public Health Dorset is also supporting the idea.

“I can confirm that this has not been a matter of discussion at BCP Council and at the moment there is no legislation enabling these rooms to be operated by local authorities.

“Currently, we give our support to a number of organisations in our area that can offer their services to those who need help with a drug or alcohol problem or have concerns about someone else. These offer psychosocial, harm reduction and subscribing services to aid recovery.”

Mr Underhill said in the long term the rooms could reduce the size of the illegal drugs market.

“These facilities put serious drug users – people who have traditionally been considered as ‘hard to reach’ by the authorities – into direct contact with the treatment services they need to start the long and difficult process of withdrawal,” he said. “We would like to see trials of supervised drug consumption rooms being established in areas where they would be in the best interest of their communities.”

The letter was signed by a group of 13 MPs and peers, and seven Police and Crime Commissioners. Previously the home office blocked the use of the rooms in the UK, over fears they condone drug use.

“Critics who are alarmed by this idea suggest it will encourage and therefore increase the use of illegal drugs, but all the evidence says this is not the case,” Mr Underhill wrote.

Drug consumption rooms operate in 16 countries around the world, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addiction.

Benefits are said to include reduced nuisance behaviour associated with public drug use – such as needle littering – and a higher uptake of drug users engaging with treatment programmes.

Across the area, residents seeking support and advice on drugs can visit BEAT (Bournemouth Engagement & Assessment Team), SMART (the Substance Misuse Assessment and Referral Team) in Poole and Reach Drug and Alcohol Services in Christchurch.