Push for safe drug injecting rooms in Victoria gains support
Footscray, Richmond and St Kilda have been floated as possible locations for the introduction of a new safe drug injecting room.
The push for a Victorian injecting room has the backing of the state’s best known leading criminal barrister.
Robert Richter QC reckons the time has come for a trial of a supervised drug taking centre in Victoria, similar to the one at Kings Cross in Sydney.
He’s working with the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation to try and make it happen.
‘What people need to understand is that this makes their backyard safer,’ Mr Richter told 3AW Drive.
Click PLAY below to hear Robert Richter speak on 3AW Drive.
Alex Wodak, national president of the ADLRF, joined 3AW Mornings to explain the proposal.
He said it was about ‘minimising risk’ for both user and the community, but wouldn’t be drawn on a possible location.
Those under the age of 18 would not be allowed to enter the facility, nor would a pregnant woman.
But Tony Jones questioned why the money and effort wasn’t focused on getting drug addicts clean, rather than facilitating their drug use.
‘You can’t get somebody clean if they’re dead,’ Mr Wodak said.
Click PLAY below to hear Tony Jones speak with Alex Wodak