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Heroin Prescribing & Drug Consumption Rooms - the Swiss have made them work can we? Maggie Telfer and the BBC visit to try to find out.
3rd February 2009

In November 2008 the Swiss voted to continue with heroin prescribing and drug consumption rooms. With 68% voting 'Yes' I went to the Swiss capital Berne with the BBC to look at what the Swiss public have voted a success to see what its relevance might be here.

Maggie Telfer talking to Dr Christoph Bürki at his heroin prescribing clinic

First up on 16th January I met Dr Christophe Bürki at his heroin prescribing clinic in the snowy capital of Berne. Most drug users are in Methadone programmes, as here, but heroin is prescribed for a minority - with visible benefits. Regina - now in her forties, was making the first of 2 visits that day (and every day) to inject her prescribed heroin before going to work: she described a life which was a far cry from her past. *

Later that day, Berne's chief of police spoke eloquently of his support for Swiss policy which in the early 90's had cleared Needle Park of its 700 injectors.

And then on to the drug consumption room. Open over 7 hours a day 7 days a week, up to 120 drug users have hygienic space to inject, smoke or sniff drugs - most of which would otherwise happen in public. Importantly for me, staff clearly use daily contact with drug users to help move people into drug treatment.

Those concerned about the Yes vote worry that drug-free treatment has been cut back and that people are 'parked' on heroin, not reaching their potential. Proper concerns to ensure policy remains effective and humane.

Maggie Telfer at the Drug Consumption Room in Berne run by CONTACT NETZ

A hygienic area used for inhaling heroin at the Drug Consumption Room in Berne.

Of course Berne isn't Bristol. We don't have hundreds of people injecting in a park rubbing up against the Swiss parliament. But we do have people who inject in car parks and doorways. In 2002 the Home Affairs Select Committee recommended that the UK should try out drug consumption rooms - because they work elsewhere: they offer an alternative to public injecting - upsetting to people who see it and unhygienic and damaging for those who do it. With over 60% of drug users getting treatment, Bristol is doing better than many other cities, but that still leaves maybe 2,500 drug users in Bristol who aren't in treatment. Drug Consumption Rooms offer a daily opportunity to engage more drug users in treatment - which, aside from the benefits for individual drug users, as the Home Office website confirms, saves taxpayers £9.50 for every £1 we spend on it. Reason to see if what works in Switzerland (and 5 other countries) could work here?

*In England a research project (RIOT) is underway looking at whether to expand levels of heroin prescribing from its current (very low) levels.