The manager of Dundee’s needle exchange centre has backed calls for drug consumption rooms to be opened in the City of Discovery.
Danny Kelly from Harm Reduction Services, who operate the centre, said he feels introducing drug consumption rooms can “provide a safe environment and reduce incidences within the community”.
Mr Kelly also believes addicts themselves can benefit from having access to such facilities.
He said: “In regards to drug consumption rooms within Dundee I think that primarily these offer vulnerable individuals an opportunity to access a variety of interventions that can build a trust and rapport through positive engagement.
“It has been highlighted in several articles where very vulnerable people have been seen to be carrying out risky practices within communities and in turn signifying positive proactive change that can identify and support people to make better informed decisions with regards to public injecting.
“To combat this, harm reduction methods and approaches must be flexible to that need in order to reduce harm from overdoses and increase awareness and access to preventative interventions such as dry blood spot testing, naloxone and safer alternatives to injecting.
“Drug consumption rooms could provide a safe environment and reduce incidences within the community by offering holistic care and interventions that are appropriate and timely that in turn go a significant way in reducing drug related deaths.”
High ranking officials from Dundee City Council have already voiced their support for the introduction of support centres where drug addicts can inject under the supervision of health workers.
Their backing comes after Glasgow City Council announced it was considering creating the first such facility in Scotland.
Dundee’ health spokesman Ken Lynn told The Courier on Wednesday: “For people who are nowhere near the recovery stage, we do need a different approach.
“There are 90 such facilities across the world and I don’t think there would be so many if they did not work.
“I know it’s controversial, but I think the time has come for fresh thinking.”
