North Richmond drug injecting room opens

VICTORIA’S first controversial safe injecting room has opened with staff declaring the first day a “success”, but they won’t reveal how many people used the facility.

VICTORIA’S first controversial safe injecting room has opened — with little fanfare.

The North Richmond centre unlocked its doors from 9am to 5pm yesterday with staff declaring the first day a “success”.

INSIDE THE RICHMOND DRUG INJECTING ROOM

ICE TO BE ALLOWED INSIDE INJECTING ROOM

CONCERN AS DRUG USERS RUN AMOK IN HOUSING ESTATE

But they would not reveal how many people had used the safe injection rooms.

“It was definitely a success,” centre spokeswoman Jessie Richardson said.

“We’re really pleased with the number of people that came through.”

The exterior of North Richmond Community Health where the injection room is. Picture: Ian Currie

Ms Richardson said once the word had spread the service was now available, they expected to see up to 300 clients each day.

The opening was conducted quietly due to fears held by management of potentially scaring off safe room users.

Dedicated centre staff are patrolling streets to encourage people found to be shooting up to enter the health centre.

“Our service is really geared to people who are likely to inject in public,” Ms Richardson said.

Police officers and paramedics attending drug-related incidents in the area have also been instructed to point those affected towards the safe injecting rooms.

Inside the injecting room. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Up to 11 people are able to use the safe injecting rooms at once.

The centre is initially expected to only be open during the day from 9am to 5pm.

It’s opening has been opposed by some locals who claim drugged-up users already cause enough trouble in the area.

Resident Ron Williams said users can become aggressive if approached.

“You can’t talk to these people,” Mr Williams said.

“If you do, they’ll end up breaking your windows or coming after you.”

Mr Williams also questioned the location of the injecting rooms, which are located next to Richmond West Primary School.

“They should find another spot because there’s no reason to have people doing drugs so close to a school,” he said.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the supervised injecting rooms would immediately help those addicted to drugs.

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