Activities per year
Abstract
Background
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.
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 |
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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 - 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
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Developing a core outcome set to evaluate drug consumption rooms (DCRs) and overdose prevention centres, drug consumption rooms, and safe consumption sites evidence review
Shorter, G. (Invited speaker)
27 Mar 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Policing overdose prevention centres, drug consumption rooms, and safe consumption sites: evidence review and lessons from the UK's first OPC in Glasgow
Shorter, G. (Invited speaker)
26 Mar 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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United Nations' 67th CND: Quality and Community in Drug Consumption Rooms / Overdose Prevention Centres: OPC Prep e-Delphi: Developing a core outcome set to evaluate Drug Consumption Rooms: How community improves quality- By invitation of G.A.T. Portugal, EuroNPUD, and the Permanent Mission of Portugal in Vienna
Shorter, G. (Invited speaker)
21 Mar 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press/Media
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Councillors call for ‘greater investment’ as drug paraphernalia litters city centre areas
17/07/2025
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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BBC Evening Extra: Expert comment on drug use in abandoned buildings in Belfast and call for Drug Consumption Rooms/Overdose Prevention Centres
17/04/2025
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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The Guardian: At last, Britain has a legal drug consumption room – thanks to one man’s civil disobedience
15/01/2025
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Room for improvement
Shorter, G. W., 01 May 2023, In: The Psychologist. 36, 5, p. 38-41 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
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
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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