Activities per year
Abstract
The United Kingdom (UK) is currently experiencing a public health crisis of drug-related deaths. The government has rejected recommendations to open overdose prevention services, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. To report on the operation and use of an unsanctioned overdose prevention service which operated in Glasgow city centre from September 2020 to May 2021.
Methods
Description of the service, with analysis of data collected on its use.
Results
The service operated for nine months without permission or funding from official sources. We report on the 894 injections supervised and recorded, and nine successful interventions with overdose events (seven opioid/two cocaine). Powder cocaine injection predominated either alone (60.6%) or with heroin (22.1%). Injection was mostly in the groin (68.0%) or arm (16.8%). More injections were recorded by males (70.1%). Around 65% of injection events featured an individual who was on a buprenorphine/methadone prescription.
Conclusion
It is feasible for an overdose prevention service to operate successfully in the UK without being shut down by the police or with negative consequences for the community. Future sites in the UK must tailor to the substances used by their potential clients, international trends (e.g. for fentanyl use) did not apply here. There is an urgent need and demand for these services in the UK to reduce harm, prevent and intervene during overdose, and provide vital psychosocial support for health and wellbeing in a highly marginalised population.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 103670 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | International Journal of Drug Policy |
Volume | 104 |
Early online date | 04 May 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 01 Jun 2022 |
Keywords
- drug consumption rooms
- overdose prevention site
- enhanced harm reduction
- opioids
- cocaine
- overdose
- drug related deaths
- blood-borne viruses
- mental health
- mental wellbeing
- outreach
- healthcare
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'The United Kingdom's first unsanctioned overdose prevention site; a proof-of-concept evaluation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Activities
-
Harm reduction and health psychology
Gillian Shorter (Invited speaker)
14 Jul 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
-
An overdose prevention centre for Belfast: Five lessons from the UK’s first drug consumption room
Gillian Shorter (Speaker) & Peter Krykant (Advisor)
30 Mar 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
-
A vehicle for change: The UK's first overdose prevention site
Gillian Shorter (Keynote speaker)
07 Mar 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
Press/Media
-
Where is the urgency to help prevent drug-related deaths?
01/09/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
-
Scottish Tories 'inflaming drugs debate with false information'
11/07/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
-
Everyday Ethics: Drug Decriminalisation (Podcast: National)
09/07/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
-
How to run an unsanctioned overdose prevention van; experiences from Glasgow 2020-2021
Krykant, P. & Shorter, G., 23 Nov 2022.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
-
The Case for Overdose Prevention Centres: Voices from Sandwell
Southwell, M., Scher, B., Harris, M. & Shorter, G., 31 Jul 2022, London: Drug Science. 68 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile -
The United Kingdom’s first unsanctioned safe injecting facility; a proof-of-concept evaluation
Shorter, G., 23 Nov 2022.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review