Victorian Government Decides Against Constructing Second Drug Injecting Room in Melbourne
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan stated, “A second injecting service in the CBD is not our plan, and it won’t be proceeding.”
The Victorian government has decided against establishing a second supervised drug injecting room to meet the needs of drug users in the state.
On April 23, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt unveiled a new action plan to address drug harm, ruling out a second drug injecting room in the CBD.
The decision was primarily based on the inability to locate a suitable site that could balance the requirements of drug users and the local community.
Ms. Allan explained to reporters, “That is why a second injecting service in the CBD is not our plan, and it won’t be proceeding.”
In place of the abandoned facility, the Victorian government has increased funding for programs targeting drug harm.
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The state government will allocate $95.11 million (US$61.44 million) towards health strategies, including $36.4 million for a new community health service on Flinders Street and $21.3 million for expanded community outreach teams to offer more support for drug users.
About $9.4 million will be directed towards additional support services in Melbourne, with $8.4 million earmarked for addiction treatments at 30 health facilities across the state.
Moreover, $7.2 million will be set aside to trial hydromorphone as a treatment for severely addicted individuals.
Ms. Allan stated, “People struggling with addiction deserve our care wherever they are, and our statewide plan will save lives with a new community health service for the city while boosting support services in our suburbs and regions.”
According to the report, a majority of surveyed residents acknowledged the city’s serious drug problem, but opinions varied on how to address the issue.
Victoria’s Drug Injecting Room Program
The drug injecting room program was launched by former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in 2017 and became operational in 2018.
Initially situated in North Richmond as part of a trial, the first drug injecting facility was made permanent in 2023 following the Ken Lay report’s findings that it had saved up to 63 lives since its inception.
The facility primarily catered to heroin users with an average age of 43, who brought and injected their own drugs under health staff supervision.
They also received food and were referred to other health services upon leaving the facility.
Reports indicated heightened crime, drug use, and even deaths in the vicinity of the facility.
Given its proximity to a primary school, parents feared their children would be exposed to drug use at a young age.
Health concerns also arose as drug users left syringes on the streets after utilizing the facility.
Meanwhile, the state Opposition explicitly opposed the establishment of a second supervised drug injecting room in Melbourne CBD.
Over 77 percent of overdose deaths involved multiple drugs, with metropolitan Melbourne accounting for over three-quarters of the cases.
