Experiences of Drug Consumption Rooms

in EuropeCedric Charvet

Coordinator DCR

www.deregenboog.orgccharvet@derengboog.org

INTRODUCTION• Drug Consumption Room definition• DCR in context / Drug policies • DCR goals• Pros and Cons of DCR• From Theory to Practice• DCR around the world• The Dutch experience• DCR standards• DCR styles / examples of DCR• Set up a DCR• DCR approach – a job like no other • Conclusion

DEFINITION

Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs) are professionally supervised healthcare facilities where drug users can use drugs in safer and more hygienic conditions.

STREET USE, Switzerland 1986

Drug Consumption Room , Luxemburg 2003

Drug Consumption Rooms in context

Drug policies; the 4 pillars:

• Prevention• Repression • Therapy• Harm Reduction → Drug Consumption Rooms

(DCR)

DCR GOALS•DCRs aim to establish contact with difficult-to-reach populations of drug users

•DCRs provide an environment for more hygienic drug use; reduce morbidity and mortality risks associated with drug use

•DCRs promote drug users’ access to other social, health and drug treatment services. •DCRs also aim to reduce public drug use and public nuisances.

PROS AND CONS PROS

• decrease in high-risk drug use; • decrease in morbidity and mortality among the target

population;• increase in uptake of health and social care including drug

treatment; • reduction in public drug use and neighborhood nuisance. CONS

• may encourage increased drug use or even initiate new users;• make drug use more acceptable and comfortable, delaying

initiation to treatment;• increase public order problems by attracting drug users and

drug dealers from other areas.

(Based on the EMCDDA Report/European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction/www.emcdda.europa.eu)

The Ins and Outs of Harm Reduction

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

Because DCRs are facilities where drug users can use drugs in safer and more hygienic conditions, let’s talk about it.

DRUGS+

SAFETYHYGIENE

STRESS FREE

DCRs AROUND THE WORLD

Existing DCRs = Switzerland , Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Luxemburg, Norway, Australia, Canada

Since 1986, more then 90 DCRs have been set up around the world, including 36 European cities

Portugal, France, Romania, Finland could be next

THE DUTCH EXPERIENCE

AMOC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, before 2007

AMOC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, after 2007

DCR STANDARDS

Basic criteria’s to access DCR• Being homeless• Being hard drug user for 5 years or more• Being 18 years of age• Understanding and agreeing on the DCR policies

Not allowed in the DCR (but very difficult to apply)• Stress• Inappropriate and/or Dangerous behaviors• Illegal activities

DCR STYLESocial DCRMedical DCRInjection SiteSmoking RoomMobile DCR Etc.

Examples of DCRs

Bern, Switzerland

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Geneva, Switzerland

Sidney, Australia

Luxemburg

Bilbao, Spain

SET UP A DCR

KNOW YOUR SCENE

LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENTS

GATHER KNOWLEDGE

ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS

HUMANISTIC APPROACH

Allow users space and time to use and thinkUse without pressureUse without judgment

Use without stress (Rat Park)Reward responsible use

Allow users to be

CONCLUSION

• Think globally / Act locally • Keep it simple (hygiene / safety / stress free)

• Listen to the local drug scene

• Every material given to users is an act of prevention

• Every service given by DCR is to implement the quality of life of users and the society as a whole

Thank you for your attention!

For further information feel free to contact me:• ccharvet@derengboog.org• www.deregenboog.org

SOURCES

Emcdda , European report on Drug Consumption Rooms, 2004, Dagmar Hedrich.

Emcdda, Harm Reduction Monograph, 2010, Chapter 11: Drug consumption facilities in Europe and beyond Dagmar Hedrich, Thomas Kerr and Françoise Dubois-Arber.

Indcr, "Setting up a drug consumption room - Legal issues", 2010. Paper F of the Independent Working Group on Drug Consumption Rooms, offers evidence supporting their Report. Forston, R Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Correlation Project, “Drug Consumption Rooms. Evidence and Practice”, 2012. Schatz, E. & Nougier, M. London,International Drug policy Consortium.

De Regenboog Groep, DCR, Jubileum 35 years, 2011, Ins and Outs of Harm Reduction Board.