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Ruth Runciman helped bring needle exchanges to the UK. Now she is chairing a working group to look at the possibility of bringing drug consumption rooms to this country. Here, in a frank interview, she tells Gary Hayes why drug consumption rooms may be the next step in the fight to reduce harm among drug users. We also find out just what she makes of the recent reclassification of cannabis, following the Runciman report which criticised the current drug laws.
What is the Drug Consumption Room Working Group?
The working group is made up of people who bring a wide range of expertise to the issue of drug consumption rooms (OCRs).
Our aim is to produce a report based on the evidence base to reach conclusions about whether, in this country, it is time to pilot OCRs. In a country where harm reduction was pioneered and which later proved to be rather effective, we are asking whether this is the next logical stage.
We come with a view that harm reduction has proved to be an important part of drug policy in this country. It is an appropriate time to examine whether harm reduction needs to move on.
What do you mean by OCRs?
We need to look at many models. The Dutch model includes smoking. Others have a host of other services as part of a DCR. We will be looking at what problem drug users and especially injectors need from such a facility.
We will therefore be examining whether DCRs can meet individual harm as well as public safety objectives. We need to see if they can get people into a facility that will teach them to inject more safely - which will have an effect on blood borne diseases, and give them pathways into services and to improve their health and welfare.
In terms of public issues, we need to establish whether there is evidence that the public nuisance aspect exists in areas in this country. It may be that DCRs can reduce nuisance, such as public injecting and discarded needles.
There are clearly principles that can apply to all services and facilities -...