SUPPORT GROUP CALL TO PROVIDE INJECTING ROOMS FOR DRUG ADDICTS

Supervised areas to enable homeless drug addicts to feed their habit have
been demanded by the State's largest voluntary drug treatment project.

The Merchant's Quay Project, based in Dublin, made the radical proposal at
the launch of a report on out of home drug users.

They believe specialised consumption rooms are required to allow safe
injecting practices to occur and protect the general public from discarded
needles.

Project Director, Tony Geoghegan, said that the study showed a majority of
homeless drug users were more inclined to risky behaviour such as sharing
needles, and injecting in public places like parks and public toilets.

They often shared equipment with other intravenous drug users in unhygienic
and unsafe conditions leaving themselves vulnerable to overdose and
infection.

Those staying in hostels were not as likely to share as they often used
more safely in the secrecy of their own rooms, he said.

Consumption rooms have proven successful in Holland and Germany, but Dublin
Corporation said due consideration will have to be given to the proposal.

"Wherever I lay my hat" -- a comprehensive study of Homeless Drug Users,
was published by the project and funded by the Combat Poverty Agency.

The research examines the extent of homelessness among attendees at their
Contact Centre and looks at the impact homelessness can have on drug using
behaviour.

According to Mr Geoghegan, many homeless drug users are sleeping rough as
they are excluded from emergency hostels.

He felt it important to provide funding to establish emergency
accommodation services for this group.

Such provision should ensure that all rooms have facilities for the safe
use and storage of injecting equipment, including sinks, bleach and lockers
on location as required.

Key staff would have to be trained to deal with the drug users but it would
be important to keep drug free hostels available for non drug users and
recovering drug users.

Mr Geoghegan also called for the provision of drugs outreach services.