This program is for those who are hopeless and don´t have a chance.
It´s not like any junkie can simply go there to have a free fix. It does not work like that. It´s selective.
And I bet you wouldn´t want to be that person that has to inject in their genitals with a help from a stranger.
Indeed not for everyone. Or else, that wouldn´t be what it is now.
I'm not sure why you quoted my post as I wasn't referring to safe injecting rooms at all; I was responding to the many replies to the OP that seem to be emphasising the increases in harm associated with heroin addiction under drug prohibition (which I think most bluelighters are already well aware of) without necessarily acknowledging the potential for harm that exists for heroin users regardless of the legal situation.
This is not to deny the escalation of harm that has resulted from prohibition, but simply to answer the OP's question.
For the record I'm very much in favour of supervised injecting centres where where a there need for such facilities. I think society should provide help for people in such seriously addicted states (not punish them) - but it is somewhat beside the point - I do think heroin is harmful irrespective of it's legal status.
It would be a lot safer if pharmaceutical grade diamorphine could be supplied to addicts in safe, clean circumstances and administered in the safest, most informed fashion (if injected, done so with sterile, single use medical supplies, and preferably by someone with at least some level harm reduction knowledge, if not medical training).
Even if all of these steps are implemented, risks are still present. That's all I'm trying to say.
Not downplaying the efforts of those who campaign for, manage and assist in various programs to decrease the harms experienced by street drug users, because we need to do anything we can to help marginalised, high risk parts of the community.
But focusing only on the harms associated with illegality is ignoring a great deal of danger that is inherent in the habitual, non-medically approved use of drugs like heroin.
The
relative safety of opiates compared to other drugs that do more obvious physical harm doesn't mean they would not 'be a problem if they were fully legal'.
