Kings Cross director says North Richmond trial will save lives

THE medical director of the Kings Cross medically supervised injecting centre in Sydney said having a similar operation in North Richmond was a “win-win”.

A Kings Cross injecting centre staff member stages a simulation of a drug user using a syringe to shoot up heroin.

THE medical director of the Kings Cross medically supervised injecting centre in Sydney said having a similar operation in North Richmond was a “win-win”.

Dr Marianne Jauncey said both heroin users and the community would benefit.

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“It’s beneficial for the individual because it keeps that person alive and puts them into contact with counsellors and professional health services to assist them,’’ Dr Jauncey said.

“It’s also a win for the local community. I’m sure in North Richmond, as it was in Kings Cross, it’s every day people step over syringes and bodies and two ambulances being called.’’

A Kings Cross injecting centre staff member stages a simulation of a drug user using a syringe to shoot up heroin.

Statistics from the Uniting service showed that it had seen more than 965,000 injections and managed 6089 overdoses without a death.

Lessons learnt from the Kings Cross injection centre will inform the establishment and operations of the facility at North Richmond Community Health, which already dispenses more than 80,000 needles a month.

Dr Marianne Jauncey. Picture: John Appleyard

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Dr Jauncey said a good relationship with residents, businesses and police was crucial to success.

She said the integrated model, where the centre is based with other health services was now preferred. Kings Cross is a stand-alone drop-in style centre.

“As much as you can provide a one-stop shop for people and minimise the barriers and the difficulties of getting them into treatment, getting them into counselling should be celebrated,’’ she said.

Drugs are still an emotive topic for some people and politicians.

Dr Jauncey warned a trial of one centre was not a magic solution for all drug problems.

“If we had a silver bullet we would have employed it decades ago,” she said.

“A medically supervised injecting centre will not magically fix everything for everybody but what it will do, for the people that use it, will make sure they don’t die of overdose.

“You can’t get into treatment or rehab if you’ve died of an overdose.’’

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@IanRoyall