Boku_
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2008
- Messages
- 935
It looks like the Vic state government has finally came good in allowing a supervised heroin injecting facility in the heroin hot bed of Richmond
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/m...m-trial-gets-green-light-20171030-gzb6ky.html
Melbourne heroin injecting room trial gets green light
Noel Towell and Benjamin Preiss
136 reading now
The Andrews government has approved a trial run of a safe injecting room for heroin addicts.
Key upper house MP James Purcell confirmed on Monday that his vital vote would go with legislation to enable a state-sanctioned injecting room in the inner-city neighbourhood of Richmond, where dozens of lives have been lost to heroin overdoses in recent years.
SHARE
SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE
SHARE ON TWITTER TWEET
LINK
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/m...m-trial-gets-green-light-20171030-gzb6ky.html
More than 20 per cent of all people who die from a heroin overdose in Victoria either die in, or source the drug from, ...
More than 20 per cent of all people who die from a heroin overdose in Victoria either die in, or source the drug from, north Richmond. Photo: Jason South
If established, the injecting room would be the first in Victoria, and only the second in Australia, after NSW established one in Kings Cross in 2001.
It's believed the trial would run for at least two years, followed by a review.
RELATED ARTICLES
Yarra drug deaths surge
'People are dying': Safe injecting room trial blocked
This is a significant reversal of Premier Daniel Andrews' long-held opposition to legalising medical supervision of addicts injecting illegal substances.
The Age revealed on Monday that 34 people have lost their lives to drug overdoses so far in 2017 in the Yarra local council area, which covers North Richmond, an increase of more than 40 per cent on the average annual death rate in the area.
Advertisement
The surge in deaths, and a new coroners' report into heroin-related deaths in the area due for publication in the coming days, have put renewed pressure on the government to consider reversing its opposition to an injecting room.
AM & PM UPDATE NEWSLETTER
Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.
Enter your email address
SIGN UP
By submitting your email you are agreeing to Fairfax Media's terms and conditions and privacy policy .
As part of its response to the drugs crisis gripping the state, the Andrews' government has announced another 100 drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds, many of them in regional Victoria, as part of the $53 million package of policies.
But the rehab places do not address the immediate issue of deaths around the Victoria Street area of North Richmond.
Vote 1 Local Jobs MP James Purcell expressed strong support on Monday for an injecting room trial.
"The research shows in other places they work well," Mr Purcell said.
"They don't have the negative impact that everyone fears they would have.
"I think it would save lives."
Mr Purcell's vote, as well as those of the Greens and Reason Party MP Fiona Patten, who has a bill legalising the injecting room already before parliament, gives the government the upper house numbers it needs to open an injecting room.
The parliamentary position means the Coalition, which opposes the idea of a safe injecting centre, would be powerless to stop the idea going ahead.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Coalition did not support an injecting room but the government not yet presented any proposals.
"Unless there is some material from the government that is vastly different I don't think our point of view will change," he said.
The government has consistently refused to respond to the growing speculation that a decision was imminent.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said a parliamentary inquiry was currently before the government for consideration.
She said Mental Health Minister Martin Foley and Mr Andrews had been talking to "key stakeholders" about the response to the inquiry.
Ms Neville said it was important to focus on drug prevention and trafficking balanced with support and rehabilitation for people who were suffering from addiction.
Residents and shopkeepers in North Richmond have been calling all year for such a facility, which has the support of paramedics, nurses and firefighters' unions, and the police union recently announced they no longer oppose it.
RELATED ARTICLES
Rally calls for safe injection rooms for Richmond
Protesters demand safe injecting rooms in Richmond
'You talk we die': Abbotsford mural calls for political action
I must say an initiative like this one should have been established back in the mid 90's when back alley heroin use was just as prevalent if not more rampant as now.
Hopefully the Richmond program will be as successful as the long established Kings Cross program in regards to preventing heroin related deaths and stopping the unnecessary spread of blood borne viruses.
It's a real shame and pity all the senseless deaths and lives lost due to heroin overdoses because of poor drug policy by both sides of politics and all Victorian political ministers in the past not taking action but the current Victorian Ministers and concerned groups of experts who campaigned for this type of drug user safety program should be commented for taking a step in the right direction as far as starting good drug policy for the overall safety of drug users visiting Richmond as well as the general welfare of Richmond's traders and residents who have been asking for safe injecting rooms to be a reality for years.
I haven't been active in the inner Melbourne heroin scene for years and i no longer use IV so it doesn't affect me in a direct way but the Andrews government gets my vote for sensible and safe policy. I know the reality is that Labour will get voted out sooner or later but hopefully when the conservative Liberal/National party gain power they will listen to the experts on the matter and bipartisan support will keep the Richmond facility operating and saving lives.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/m...m-trial-gets-green-light-20171030-gzb6ky.html
Melbourne heroin injecting room trial gets green light
Noel Towell and Benjamin Preiss
136 reading now
The Andrews government has approved a trial run of a safe injecting room for heroin addicts.
Key upper house MP James Purcell confirmed on Monday that his vital vote would go with legislation to enable a state-sanctioned injecting room in the inner-city neighbourhood of Richmond, where dozens of lives have been lost to heroin overdoses in recent years.
SHARE
SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE
SHARE ON TWITTER TWEET
LINK
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/m...m-trial-gets-green-light-20171030-gzb6ky.html
More than 20 per cent of all people who die from a heroin overdose in Victoria either die in, or source the drug from, ...
More than 20 per cent of all people who die from a heroin overdose in Victoria either die in, or source the drug from, north Richmond. Photo: Jason South
If established, the injecting room would be the first in Victoria, and only the second in Australia, after NSW established one in Kings Cross in 2001.
It's believed the trial would run for at least two years, followed by a review.
RELATED ARTICLES
Yarra drug deaths surge
'People are dying': Safe injecting room trial blocked
This is a significant reversal of Premier Daniel Andrews' long-held opposition to legalising medical supervision of addicts injecting illegal substances.
The Age revealed on Monday that 34 people have lost their lives to drug overdoses so far in 2017 in the Yarra local council area, which covers North Richmond, an increase of more than 40 per cent on the average annual death rate in the area.
Advertisement
The surge in deaths, and a new coroners' report into heroin-related deaths in the area due for publication in the coming days, have put renewed pressure on the government to consider reversing its opposition to an injecting room.
AM & PM UPDATE NEWSLETTER
Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.
Enter your email address
SIGN UP
By submitting your email you are agreeing to Fairfax Media's terms and conditions and privacy policy .
As part of its response to the drugs crisis gripping the state, the Andrews' government has announced another 100 drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds, many of them in regional Victoria, as part of the $53 million package of policies.
But the rehab places do not address the immediate issue of deaths around the Victoria Street area of North Richmond.
Vote 1 Local Jobs MP James Purcell expressed strong support on Monday for an injecting room trial.
"The research shows in other places they work well," Mr Purcell said.
"They don't have the negative impact that everyone fears they would have.
"I think it would save lives."
Mr Purcell's vote, as well as those of the Greens and Reason Party MP Fiona Patten, who has a bill legalising the injecting room already before parliament, gives the government the upper house numbers it needs to open an injecting room.
The parliamentary position means the Coalition, which opposes the idea of a safe injecting centre, would be powerless to stop the idea going ahead.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Coalition did not support an injecting room but the government not yet presented any proposals.
"Unless there is some material from the government that is vastly different I don't think our point of view will change," he said.
The government has consistently refused to respond to the growing speculation that a decision was imminent.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said a parliamentary inquiry was currently before the government for consideration.
She said Mental Health Minister Martin Foley and Mr Andrews had been talking to "key stakeholders" about the response to the inquiry.
Ms Neville said it was important to focus on drug prevention and trafficking balanced with support and rehabilitation for people who were suffering from addiction.
Residents and shopkeepers in North Richmond have been calling all year for such a facility, which has the support of paramedics, nurses and firefighters' unions, and the police union recently announced they no longer oppose it.
RELATED ARTICLES
Rally calls for safe injection rooms for Richmond
Protesters demand safe injecting rooms in Richmond
'You talk we die': Abbotsford mural calls for political action
I must say an initiative like this one should have been established back in the mid 90's when back alley heroin use was just as prevalent if not more rampant as now.
Hopefully the Richmond program will be as successful as the long established Kings Cross program in regards to preventing heroin related deaths and stopping the unnecessary spread of blood borne viruses.
It's a real shame and pity all the senseless deaths and lives lost due to heroin overdoses because of poor drug policy by both sides of politics and all Victorian political ministers in the past not taking action but the current Victorian Ministers and concerned groups of experts who campaigned for this type of drug user safety program should be commented for taking a step in the right direction as far as starting good drug policy for the overall safety of drug users visiting Richmond as well as the general welfare of Richmond's traders and residents who have been asking for safe injecting rooms to be a reality for years.
I haven't been active in the inner Melbourne heroin scene for years and i no longer use IV so it doesn't affect me in a direct way but the Andrews government gets my vote for sensible and safe policy. I know the reality is that Labour will get voted out sooner or later but hopefully when the conservative Liberal/National party gain power they will listen to the experts on the matter and bipartisan support will keep the Richmond facility operating and saving lives.
