A senior Newcastle councillor has called on the Home Office to reconsider its stance on "drug consumption rooms" (DCRs)- which he argues would save lives.
Sometimes known as supervised injection sites, DCRs operate around the world, with the first having been introduced in Bern, Switzerland in 1986.
And now Coun John-Paul Stephenson - Newcastle City Council 's cabinet member with responsibility for public health - has written to Government minister Kit Malthouse saying the law should be changed to allow DCRs in the UK.
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As it stands, the Misuse of Drugs Act makes the operation of a DCR illegal. In Glasgow, an activist was arrested and charged after running a mobile "drug consumption van" in 2020 - though charges were later dropped.
Mr Malthouse is set to visit Newcastle later this year to discuss the national Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement, Recovery) scheme which has been operating in the city.
In his letter, Coun Stephenson highlights how city-centre councillors in particular have raised the idea of introducing DCRs - and says there is a "clear public health justification" for taking a new approach to tackling the harm caused by drugs.
He writes: "There is enthusiasm from some elected members, and the city’s public health team, to introduce safe drug-taking spaces in Newcastle."
Citing how the facilities exist around the world in places such as Canada, Australia and throughout mainland Europe, Coun Stephenson adds: "The UK is, embarrassingly, lagging behind the progress being made elsewhere to reduce the transmission of Blood Borne Viruses and drug related death."
The councillor also said the issue of drug-related death had worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic, and added: "We would welcome a considered debate on this, and for the case to be made to the Prime Minister, who chairs the crime and justice task force. We need to overcome the legal barriers and move on from defending the status quo.
"There is a clear public health justification for the United Kingdom to catch up with the progress being made in many countries to tackle drug related infections and deaths, as well as the related community safety and economic implications."
Coun Stephenson said DCRs would have numerous benefits including reducing the risk of death by providing a safe and private space for drug users where they would not have to rush and by "reducing harmful injecting practice" such as the sharing of needles.
He also said they would make it easier for public health reps to engage with those taking drugs and guide them towards treatment and support, while also reducing the "public nuisance" that drug use on the streets can cause.
However, the Home Office has said there are no plans to introduce DCRs.
A spokesperson said: "We have no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms in the UK.
"A range of crimes would be committed in the course of running such facilities, by both service users and staff, such as possession of a controlled drug or knowingly permitting the supply of a controlled drug on a premises.
"The Home Office published a 10-year drugs strategy in December which will support people through treatment and recovery, as well as an even tougher response to criminal supply chains and the demand that fuels these illegal markets."
The Government has said it will give new evidence around DCRs "due consideration" and that it keeps drug control policy under review.
In its 10-year drugs strategy, the Government sets out that its priorities are to break up drug supply chains, deliver "world class" treatment and recovery programme and reduce the demand for recreational drugs.
Project ADDER is one way in which it is trying to do this - and last summer the Government said Newcastle was chosen to be part of the programme because of the high drug death rate in the city.
Between 2017 and 2019, the rate of drug-related deaths in Newcastle was 9.1 per 100,000 – almost double the national average for England of 4.7 per 100,000.
Newcastle City Council received more than £1m while Northumbria Police got £550,000 as part of Project ADDER - and in February the authorities said the scheme's first year had seen police execute 87 warrants, make 503 arrests, and seize illegal drugs with an estimated street value of more than £1m.
The council has also been able to build capacity within its drug and alcohol support services, while also increasing its outreach work and the distribution of the anti-opioid naloxone - which can help prevent overdoses.
It also runs needle-exchange programmes as part of a central harm reduction service and has a physical health team which is working to "address the health needs of the injecting population".
