Are 'The Drugs Rooms' Coming to Britain?

Picture the scene: Individual booths in a room where people can inject themselves with some of the most harmful drugs known on earth, totally legal and no questions asked. This scheme which has been extremely successful in Denmark hands addicts a syringe and a sterilised needle and providing they get their own heroin they can get a 'fix' in a safe and clean environment.

Since the introduction of 'the drug room' in Copenhagen, a year ago, crime and death rates have dramatically decreased, the room attracts over 8,000 users. The scheme is so successful that the Danish are planning another centre in its second largest city: Aarhus.

Aarhus the energetic city where the second 'drugs room' is planned on being set up. Picture courtesy of Aarhus.com 

In Britain heroin is a rare addiction compared to other drugs but it still needs to be addressed, is this Danish scheme to be announced over here? Addicts are always looking for their next 'fix' and go to extreme lengths to get it. Using dirty needles in the middle of the streets could potentially harm not just themselves but anyone - it takes one curious child to pick up a used needle and they could infect themselves with HIV or hepatitis. In 'the drugs room' addicts are watched by medical staff as they inject themselves with taboo substances. Despite thousands of overdoses the 'drugs room' have recorded no fatalities in the year it has been opened.

Movements have urged similar rooms here, in places such as Brighton and Durham. Police Crime Commissioner for Durham Ron Hogg has backed these ideas telling the BBC: "The successes of trials around the world, have led myself to believe that using drug consumption rooms to treat heroin addiction should be explored further."

The Danish public have seen prosperity in the area where 'the drug room' is: Vesterbro. The area was well known for its red light district and homeless shelters before the room now it's the place to be with trendy bars attracting tourists.

If these introductions are going to come into place does these mean the police are going soft on drug usage? Police cannot arrest someone if they are in possession of drugs if they claim to be going to 'the drugs room'. A proposal like this many influence more people to consume harmful drugs if they are being watched by medical staff in a safe and clean environment - after all taking drugs ruins lives no matter what environment you're in.

The drugs room, where addicts consume drugs under watchful eyes of medical staff. Pictured courtesy of BBC.co.uk

More importantly these schemes would more than likely be funded by an already unstable NHS. How would a taxpayer feel if their money would be going to help people who are ruining and shortening their life?

The aim of the government is to preserve strict laws on drugs, but a scheme like this doesn't stop it, it merely gives people a chance to have drugs in a controlled environment. If the NHS feels it needs to combat drugs there needs to be a more aggressive approach than this idea.