"Safe" Injection Rooms

[Mika:.]

... As there's no such thing as safe injecting.

What are your opinions on injection rooms? By the way, this is in Australia. NSW, to be specific. Although I'd be interested to hear what the situation is like in other regions.

I'm sitting on the fence for this one. I suppose I'm slightly for it, only because it along with the Needle Exchange Program reduces the number of used syringes discarded in public areas. In my opinion, stray needles are a major health issue, and anything that minimises harm to the general public should be active.

Not meaning to sound inhumane, but I think the well-being of the drug-users is the less significant reason for injection rooms. The reason being there are in fact several medicinal alternatives to illegal drugs, as there are also detox programs. It is the choice of the individual to use illegal substances, and they should therefore accept the risks attached.

And I do believe that injection rooms encourage illegal drug-use. It's harm minimisation versus zero tolerance. I have my doubts that either will be effective.

What are your thoughts?

[judes]

i don't think there are places like that where i live in canada, but i know there are clinics where doctors give "safer" versions of the drug as rehab to wean the patients off their addiction to the harder drug.

can you explain more clearly what "safe" injection rooms are?
it's a place coupled with the needle exchange program?

[Rurouni[X]]

haha Australia NSW.. yes.
Do you know that in the city.. or the CBD the public toilets are not lit well so people cannot inject themsleves in there.
There are NO safe injection rooms that i know of.. o.O
or are there,'.... hmm after much though no..
Anywayz yeah i agree.
Although I never knew there were alternatives to drugs.. You cant reach a high on medical drugs.. it cant be good for you. Even suger gives you diabetes for
Gods sakes.. :P
If there were places like Safe injection rooms i would be for it.
Many people have died from Overdoses while trying to get a bigger "Hit"
Safe Injection rooms would limit the amount they have would it not?
^^"

[crazygiggles13]

i dont think havent the rooms will limit their usage, but at least they'll have people checking up on them so you wont find a dead person in the toilets like a week after they died..:crazy:
many public toilets have that special blue lighting where you cant see your veins so it stops people from injecting.. but i just find it annoying cuz it kinda hurts youre eyes and makes everything blue and scary..keke..
i guess injection rooms are a better alternative than just the normal toilets, although some public toilets already have seringe bins for the needles.
and it'll be good for them to get clean needles instead of spreading diseases..
its not like the injection rooms will encourage people to try drugs..well..not me anyways, im not interested..:blush:..hopefully its not just me thts not interested..

[ShuiMei]

By safe injection rooms, do you mean safe injection sites? Public places where those who are addicted to intervenous drugs can come in and safely inject themselves with clean needles and off the streets? If so, while I'm not crazy about the idea I see the necessity for having them.

I can see how one may be skeptical with the use of the term "safe" for injection sites, but that's what they are, a "safer" alternative, what they may be injecting into themselves may not be a safe substance, but these sites can control the cleanliness of the needles these users are using, monitor the injections and the users, and have people ready to assist others if necessary.

Let's look at the alternative, people can either inject themselves in unsterile, uncontrolled environments, often sharing needles, with a high risk of spreading diseases from one user to another, surrounded by other drugs and other users, or they can inject themselves in a sterile, controlled environment surrounded by people who are willing to help them, provide them with mental and medical help if necessary. The option of having safe-injection sites keeps people off the streets, improving public order, and allows users to safely inject themselves with access to help if needed.

i don't think there are places like that where i live in canada
At the moment, there is one safe-injection site in Canada, its the first one in North America, and its under trial in Vancouver, the trial period is about to expire, and it's currently up to the Conservative government to see whether or not it will be renewed. Researchers appear to think that the Vancouver safe injection site was a success, here's some articles about it on the CBC website:

- Researchers deem Vancouver's safe injection site a success (http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2004/09/27/inject_site040927.html)
- Addicts, health officials trumpet success of safe injection site (http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2004/09/21/safe_inject040921.html)

[scarletwillow]

People have to learn that the majority of medical successes since the invention of what we call modern medicinal practice have NOT been in treatment or rehab, but in the practice of PUBLIC health. In fact, nearly all increases in health since the 1900's aren't due to drugs, but to things like clean water.

This is a GREAT public health initiative. There really is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Let's face it, you can't just strip an addict of his addiction. You have to take it step by step.

[HarmonyCloud]

I have never heard of Safe injection rooms, but I feel that such a thing makes it seem as though the government is giving an okay on drug use, or at least experimenting with drugs. In the stand on druges I believe in a no tolerence policy. But I guess these rooms will help stop spreading diseases and such..but still I feel that there shouldn't even be drugs in the country, but ofcourse that is being unrealistic. :oops:

[tomato_0]

i dont even know if we have any of those rooms in south aus. anyway if we are for these safe rooms then we're practically endorsing injecting if we say we're for those rooms. i mean, how much drugs are "safe" and how much drugs are too much?
but then again, i guess it'd be better than doing it in the middle of no where and looking after yu if yu pass out or soemthing. so i'm FOR it ^^

[ShuiMei]

Last that I read, the United States' position in this issue was that having safe injection sites was like having "state-sponsored suicide."

By having these safe injection sites I don't think the government is condoning drug activity, it's really not about how "drugs are bad," we all know they are, and we know people are going to continue using, it's just about alternatives, giving these people who can't help themselves or don't have access to the tools to get better, options. Ideally, this wouldn't be a problem and people wouldn't be on the streets using, sharing, and dying, but the reality of the situation is that it is happening, and the question of the day is what the government should do about it.

I think the results from the Vancouver safe injection site are positive and outweigh, or at least soothes the negativity and uneasiness around the idea. Since the introduction of the safe injection site, public order has improved as has the cleaniless of the streets, and more people are entering rehabilitation and treatment programs.

[Sou.]

I've never heard of safe injection rooms-- but you have to think. Consider how many people who live in a zero tolerance society die of overdose because they have no idea what they're doing, or die because their drugs are cut with the wrong thing (like XTC cut with lead bearings, or whatever), or die because they can't tell how pure their stuff is. Government sanctioning of drug use and actually helping a little makes it a lot safer, I think, and maybe even puts some regulation on it. So personally, I think that stuff like that is good. I mean, how many heroin using business men or women head to Amsterdam and take their normal does only to keel over from mainlining something that's way stronger?

It keeps people alive if there are helping hands to guide you, na.