Melbourne, VIC, 17th May 2011 – UnitingCare Morelan

d Hall, one of Victoria’s leading alcohol and other drugs agencies, today expressed its support for the proposal to introduce a medically supervised injecting centre (or ‘safe injecting room’) in Richmond (http://bit.ly/heraldsunarticle) in response to community concerns about the health and safety impacts of public drug injecting. 

CEO Laurence Alvis said:

The Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Kings Cross provides an excellent model for what could be achieved in Richmond.  After ten years of operation and independent evaluation of the MSIC, the evidence is clear: the service has brought about significant health, social, economic and community safety benefits.  Moreland Hall supports the addition of such a service to the existing framework of prevention and treatment programs funded by the Victorian Government. 

A recent review by KPMG (http://bit.ly/kpmgreport) included the following findings about the centre:

• It is effective at preventing deaths from drug overdoses. While it has been visited well over 600,000 times (including over 3,000 recorded overdose events) since its opening, there has not been a single death at the centre;
• It is effective gateway into drug treatment, particularly for those with no previous contact with relevant services.  The more frequently clients attend the centre, the more likely they are to take up referrals to drug treatment programs;
• Local residents and business operators are strong supporters of the centre and report significant reductions in rates of public injecting and inappropriate disposal of injecting equipment since its opening in 2001;
• There has been a steady growth in community support for the centre since it’s opening in 2000.  In 2010, 78% of local residents and 70% of business operators supported its operation.

Mr Alvis continued:

I understand that the concept of such services can be difficult for the public to accept and that politicians may be unwilling to advocate for measures which will polarise public opinion.  However, it is important that there is an informed public debate of relevant issues and that credible evidence is appropriately recognised (http://bit.ly/msicevaluationreports). 

The steady growth in local support for the Kings Cross MSIC speaks volumes for the positive impact that it has had in the area, not just for the people using the service but for the wider community.  I commend Yarra Council for being willing to discuss the option of establishing a similar service in Richmond and strongly urge the Baillieu Government to reconsider its opposition to such an initiative.

ENDS

For further information or comment please contact CEO Laurence Alvis on (03) 9384 8867.

 
Background about Moreland Hall:  UnitingCare Moreland Hall is an Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) treatment and education agency of the Uniting Church in Australia. Moreland Hall has been operating since 1970 and provides a range of treatment and education services to clients in the North West Metropolitan region of Melbourne. These include counselling and support in the community and at Port Phillip prison, adult and youth home-based and residential withdrawal, education and training, drug diversion programs, supported accommodation and youth and family service.