5th EHRC | Drug Consumption Rooms. Advocacy & the Reality Check
Parallel Session at the 5th European Harm Reduction Conference
Speakers:
-Pushing Boundaries & Crossing Borders | Tony Duffin [Ana Liffey Drug Project] & Eugene McCann [Simon Fraser University, Department of Geography] 4:53
-The First UK (unsanctioned) Safe Injection Facility: Notes from a Van | Gillian Shorter [Queens University Belfast, Drug & Alcohol Research Network] 10:55
-Community Perceptions surrounding Lisbon’s Mobile Drug Consumption Room | Hanna Taylor [GAT, Grupo de Ativistas en Tratamentos] 17:20
-Lisbon’s Mobile Drug Consumption Room: Client and Professionals Satisfaction | Angela Leite [GAT, Grupo de Ativistas en Tratamentos] 23:15
-Supervised Consumption Program in Lisbon: Implementation and Preliminary Results | Ines Pereira [Ares do Pinhal] 31:05
-Past, Present & Future: DCRs in The Netherlands | Jorn Dekker [De Regenboog Groep] 36:45
-DCRs Since 20+ Years | Janine Lanz [City of Zurich] 41:34
Moderated discussion with all speakers 49:33
Abstract:
Born from the opioid crisis in the late 1980s / early 1990s, as Europe’s open drug scene emerged, a couple of cities established drug consumption rooms (DCRs) to tackle the health and public order threats for the individual and the general public. Over the past 30 years, some cities have managed to overcome the opiate and HIV epidemics with their drug strategy, improving life quality in the city. At the same time, many countries have not yet introduced this measure, while a couple of countries are ready to open such a facility now or in the near future.
The session discusses critical factors for the success or failure of implementing drug consumption rooms, and advocates address their (success) stories to get a DCR on track in their country/city.
EHRC | IDPC | Decriminalisation, the next 5th EHRC | ID5th EHRC | IDPC | Decriminalisation, the next logical step for Europe? [Russian Language]
Major Session at the 5th European Harm Reduction Conference
Major Session at the 5th European Harm Reduction Conference Speakers: - Marie Nougier (IDPC) 2:22 - Rui Miguel Coimbra Morais (CASO Drug Users Union) 22:22 - Zaved Mahmood (OHCHR) 32:13 - Tore Sørensen (Norwegian Ministry of Care and Health
Services) 55:11 Abstract: Room: Congress hall Organiser: International Drug
Policy Consortium (IDPC) Chair: Eliza Kurcevič (EHRA) The criminalisation of
people who use drugs (PWUD) compounds drug-related harms and worsens health and
welfare outcomes worldwide. However, a growing number of jurisdictions have
decriminalised the possession of some or all drugs for personal use, including
many pioneering examples from Europe. When done in line with the evidence and
partnership with people with use drugs, decriminalisation has the potential to
improve public health and human rights dramatically. However, when sub-optimal
models are created or models prejudice some drugs over others, this potential
can be missed, and new problems can emerge. Decriminalisation policies have
always been permitted within international drug conventions. There has also
been increased acknowledgement and promotion of this approach in recent years –
most recently from a common position for the entire UN system. In this session,
the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) invites you to explore the
arguments for decriminalisation and some of the complex and challenging
questions which remain. Europe can become a global champion for effective,
‘gold standard’ decriminalisation approaches – just as it was for harm
reduction adoption decades ago.
Speakers:
- Marie Nougier (IDPC) 2:22
- Rui Miguel Coimbra Morais (CASO Drug Users Union) 22:22
- Zaved Mahmood (OHCHR) 32:13
- Tore Sørensen (Norwegian Ministry of Care and Health Services) 55:11
Abstract:
Room: Congress hall
Organiser: International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)
Chair: Eliza Kurcevič (EHRA)
The criminalisation of people who use drugs (PWUD) compounds drug-related harms and worsens health and welfare outcomes worldwide. However, a growing number of jurisdictions have decriminalised the possession of some or all drugs for personal use, including many pioneering examples from Europe.
When done in line with the evidence and partnership with people with use drugs, decriminalisation has the potential to improve public health and human rights dramatically. However, when sub-optimal models are created or models prejudice some drugs over others, this potential can be missed, and new problems can emerge.
Decriminalisation policies have always been permitted within international drug conventions. There has also been increased acknowledgement and promotion of this approach in recent years – most recently from a common position for the entire UN system.
In this session, the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) invites you to explore the arguments for decriminalisation and some of the complex and challenging questions which remain. Europe can become a global champion for effective, ‘gold standard’ decriminalisation approaches – just as it was for harm reduction adoption decades ago.
