Doctors battling HIV have written to new Home Secretary Priti Patel to plead for a pilot Drug Consumption Room for Glasgow.
The approach by the British HIV Association (BHIVA) underlines how such a facility could combat a outbreak of HIV caused by addicts injecting cocaine.
Doctors and drug treatment agencies believe a DCR – also known as a Safer Drugs Consumption Facility – would counter the disturbing trend and bring many other benefits to the city.
Penned jointly by BHIVA’S chair Professor Chloe Orkin and president Dr Olwen Williams, the letter claims the unit – blocked by the Home Office, which controls drug laws – will reduce drug-related deaths and the spread of blood-borne infections and increase the reach of HIV and hepatitis C testing.
They tell Patel: “We feel that this approach is entirely consistent with the spirit of the 2017 Drug Strategy supporting people dependent on drugs to progress to treatment and recovery. Ultimately, an SDCF will help us to save lives.”
The doctors highlight how, since 2015, more than 130 new HIV cases have been identified in Glasgow, with the majority having a history of injecting drugs in public spaces.
They state: “This has been a highly localised outbreak focused on Glasgow city centre and therefore an exceptional local intervention is warranted. This proposal has been universally supported by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government.”
They add: “There is a substantial body of international evidence that demonstrates the positive impact [SDCFs] have.”
