President's Guest Lecture: From street to safety: the how and why of overdose prevention centres (Wolfson College, University of Oxford)

Description

Dr. Gillian Shorter is a leading researcher in harm reduction, whose work has significantly advanced the empirical and policy understanding of drug consumption rooms (DCRs). Her contributions include the evaluation of the first site in the UK, an unsanctioned overdose prevention van, providing critical evidence on safety, feasibility, and public health impact—demonstrating, notably, that no fatalities occurred during nearly 900 supervised injections. She led the largest evidence review synthesizing over two decades of international research on DCRs, addressing operational models, health outcomes, and legal considerations. Dr. Shorter’s research has been instrumental in informing policy development, challenging stigma, and reframing drug use as a public health issue, with an emphasis on evidence-based interventions and the reduction of harm. In this talk Gillian will discuss what we know about how DCRs operate in the UK and internationally, and if and why we might consider them as a public health intervention for our communities.

Period	01 May 2025
Held at	University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	National