Drug Consumption Rooms in Europe | 6th European Harm Reduction Conference, 2024 | Live stream

Scheduled for Dec 3, 2024, 9:00 AM

For more than 30 years, Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs) have been implemented in Western countries. These services, typically aim to reduce overdose-related morbidity and mortality, prevent the spread of infectious diseases and provide access to a broad range of medical and social support services. As frontline, low-threshold services, DCRs are also often among the first sites where insights into new drug use patterns and they therefore play an important role in the early identification of new and emerging drug trends. In addition, DCRs may also have the objective of reducing drug use in public and to improve public amenities.

In some countries, DCRs are a well-established and integrated component in responses to drug-related problems. Additionally, a substantial body of practical experience and research evidence has accumulated to support its effectiveness in achieving public health and safety. Yet, the scale of DCR implementation still varies considerably worldwide as they remain contested measures, particularly at the level of political and public debates.

From a legal point of view, international conventions allow flexibility in the establishment of DCRs when national legislation acknowledges these facilities as part of a public health, harm-reduction strategy. However, in many countries, the operation and continuity of DCRS require adaptations to their legislative, judicial and/or administrative frameworks. Also, they face multiple political, cultural, economic and ethical obstacles, as well as community and public opinion debates.

This session aims to contribute to an informed discussion about DCRs, by presenting the available evidence, reviewing the various models being adopted and their characteristics, as well as (legal) preconditions and considerations that would allow this public health service to be integrated and balanced continuum of drug policy initiatives.

Potential partners: European Network of Drug Consumption Rooms, Queen’s University, EMCDDA, EuroNPUD

Moderator: Roberto Perez Gayo

Discussant: Peter Krykant, Release Drugs, Trustee

Subsessions

Abrigado Luxemburg 20+1: From drug consumption room to complex drug help center
December 03, 2024 9:00 AM – 9:10 AM

Implementation and development of an integrated model of Drug Consumption Room in a disadvantaged and stigmatized social housing context in Lisbon
December 03, 2024 9:10 AM – 9:20 AM

Overcoming legal barriers to the establishment of DCRs in Europe
December 03, 2024 9:20 AM – 9:30 AM

OPC Prep: Developing a core outcome set to evaluate overdose prevention centres (OPCs) or Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs)
December 03, 2024 9:30 AM – 9:40 AM

Overdose prevention centres as spaces of safety, trust and inclusion: a causal pathway based on a realist review
December 03, 2024 9:40 AM – 9:50 AM

Drug Consumption Rooms operating in Greece: Highlighting the importance through evidence-based data.
December 03, 2024 9:50 AM – 10:00 AM