Andrews Government says North Richmond injecting room is ‘saving lives’

NEARLY 8000 patients have been treated during the controversial North Richmond injecting room’s first two months, with 140 people overdosing.

DRUG users have overdosed 140 times at the controversial North Richmond safe injecting room in the two months since it opened.

The government says many of those overdoses would have been fatal if they had happened on the street.

LOCALS ALARMED AT USERS STILL INJECTING IN PUBLIC

Doctors at the injecting room have treated nearly 8000 patients so far — six times as many as Sydney’s safe injecting room dealt with in its first two months.

Up to 200 drug users are visiting every day, with injecting room staff expecting as many as 300 people will visit once they become comfortable with the facility.

Construction work will begin next month on a purpose-built injecting room at the existing North Richmond Community Health site.

Medical monitoring room at the clinic. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A security guard outside the safe injecting room at North Richmond. Picture: Wayne Taylor

It will include more counselling and treatment rooms to help refer drug users to support services.

Mental Health Minister Martin Foley, speaking on International Overdose Awareness Day, said the facility was “saving lives”.

“We know that drug addiction is a health issue that we can’t police our way out of — which is why we’ve taken action and made record investments in preventing and treating drug addiction and overdose across Victoria,” Mr Foley said.

“Our staff have safely responded to 140 overdoses in just two months, many of which would have otherwise been fatal.”

The state Opposition has vowed to shut down the injecting room if it wins November’s state election.

[e-mail]

@tminear