Paris plans drug injection centre
City council wants to set up facility for heroin and cocaine addicts
PARIS City Council has voted to trial a salle de shoot (supervised injection site) where users of hard drugs could obtain sterile syringes and inject drugs.
Green, Centrist and Socialist councillors say the facilities are beneficial to both drug addicts and local people, who might otherwise be bothered by addicts injecting in public or discarding syringes. The Socialist mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, says they are “a plus for public safety”.
Councillors visited such facilities in Spain and Switzerland to see how the idea works. They also exist in Germany, Holland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Australia and Canada.
The aim is for habitual users of drugs such as heroin and cocaine to take their drugs in hygienic conditions, under the supervision of medical staff. This limits the transmission of disease. The users are also offered support to come off drugs.
Where the sites exist abroad, they are reserved for habitual users; and minors, beginners or occasional drug users do not have access.
Several politicians from France’s ruling UMP party have, however, opposed the idea, saying it might just encourage and normalise drug use.
In order to install the facility, the council will need approval from the state. Ministers are divided over the idea: previously the Health Minister has supported it, but the Prime Minister has expressed opposition.
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