Drug consumption rooms

Syringe

Tuesday, 23, May 2006 12:00

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has called for "drug consumption rooms" to be set up in the UK, allowing drug addicts to inject themselves in hygienic and supervised conditions.

The 11-strong independent working group, including police, legal and health experts, argues such rooms would lessen fatal overdoses, improve users’ health and reduce numbers of discarded needles in public places.

In a new report, it says the drug consumption rooms do not appear to increase levels of crime and are mostly used by local drug users.

The UK has the highest number of drug related deaths in Europe, and more than half of respondents in today’s BBC ICM survey said police were not doing enough to combat the drugs problem. These rooms already exist in countries such as Germany, Holland and Spain.

However, some will argue this would be a dangerous step closer to legalising drugs, and the government has in the past been opposed to the idea.

politics.co.uk brings you the key quotes and reaction.