The Northern Ireland Alcohol and Drug Alliance supports the establishment of ‘Overdose Prevention Spaces’ in Northern Ireland. The aim of such a facility is to reduce risk of disease transmission through unhygienic injecting, prevent overdoses and connect drug users with addiction treatment services, as well as to protect the wider public.

An Overdose Prevention Space, more commonly known as a ‘safe drug consumption room’, or DCRs, are places where drugs can be consumed under the supervision of trained staff. An Overdose Prevention Space is an expressly ‘harm reduction’ initiative and its objective is to provide a clean and safe place for drug users to inject. They also aim to:
• Reduce drug-related deaths (overdosing)
• Reduce disease transmission (HIV, hepatitis C, etc)
• Provide an opportunity for drug users to connect with health and social care and other professionals who can ultimately help them on a road to complete cessation
• Protect the wider community from drug-related litter and the visibility of drug using