RPS welcomes call for safe consumption facilities from Home Affairs Committee

The Home Affairs Committee have called for a health-led strategy to address the risks posed by illegal drug use, part of which would be a change in legislation to allow the introduction of safe consumption facilities.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society called for safe consumption facilities in our 2021 policy 'Improving care, reducing harm and preventing death in people who use drugs: Pharmacy’s role, which advocated innovative measures to enhance patient care, helping to mitigate harm and prevent deaths associated with drug use.

RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said:

“There are now around 100 supervised drug consumption facilities across the world, primarily in Europe, which have provided over thirty years of evidence of their effectiveness. 

“We believe we can apply that learning here and provide clean, safe spaces for those injecting drugs. This will bring illegal drug users closer to mainstream health and addiction support services and provide an opportunity for health professionals to engage in treatment and prevention. This in turn will help to save lives, reduce harm and reduce drug deaths.”

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