Harm reduction
Climate change
Belfast’s injecting drugs crisis has prompted a call for
action – to bring a drug consumption room to the city
as quickly as possible. Report from Chris Rintoul
T
here has been a marked rise in people who inject
drugs in Belfast city centre over the last two years.
This is shown by a dramatic increase in discarded
injecting equipment – in back streets, car parks,
public toilets, toilets provided by shops and public
transport stations, as well as a number of disused
buildings. Further evidence is an increase in the numbers of
people begging, accessing needle and syringe provision, and
presenting for treatment for heroin dependence, which has
been accompanied by sensationalist media reporting and
frustration among members of the business community.
On 20 February a conference was held at Queens University
Belfast. Called Responding to injecting drug use: an exploratory
conversation, it was delivered by Extern, a social justice
organisation providing services throughout Ireland, and co-
sponsored by Queens University and the Belfast Drugs and
Alcohol Coordination Team. More than 130 people attended,
from diverse perspectives and agencies including the media,
politicians, city councillors and the health and social care field.
During the last two years Extern have been working with
stakeholders across the city to assist in managing what has
rapidly become an entrenched issue. A public expectation that
Belfast’s developing heroin ‘scene’ should, could and would be
eradicated primarily by law enforcement measures is being
replaced with a growing pragmatic awareness that we have to
manage what is a health and social issue. As a result, attempts
are being made to learn from other cities who have experienced
these issues for longer periods.
As Extern’s drugs and alcohol consultant, I was able to use
my international contacts to attract a world-class group of
speakers from the legal, law enforcement, academic and
practice fields. Professor Pat O’Hare of Liverpool John Moores
University chaired the event, introducing the keynote speaker,
Professor Carl Hart of Columbia University, NYC. Carl’s
impassioned presentation outlined the moral case for a baseline harm reduction
response for people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in the city centre, with a drug
consumption facility (DCR) in an area where drugs are already bought and used.
Next Durham’s chief constable, Mike Barton, outlined his views on how similar
problems in Durham could and should be treated, and made particular reference to
heroin assisted treatment (HAT) for those who have not benefited from traditional
OST medications. His presence attracted a number of high-ranking officers from the
Police Service of Northern Ireland and enabled them to consider HAT and the case
for a DCR in Belfast.
The next speakers were Niamh Eastwood, barrister and executive director of
Release, and Neil Woods, an ex-undercover police officer and now chair of Law
8 | drinkanddrugsnews | April 2018
Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).
Niamh outlined the legal issues
associated with a DCR within the UK –
both the apparent barriers and potential
ways to overcome them. She made clear
that there is a legal way forward in the
UK to the provision of DCRs, if enough
popular support exists and the local
police force and politicians agree with
the concept.
Neil then spoke of his very