Young people who use drugs let down by decision to scrap CBD safe injecting service
Young people with lived experience of drug and alcohol-related harm are disappointed the Victorian government won’t create a safe injecting service in Melbourne’s CBD.
YSAS practitioners, addiction medicine specialists and experts with lived and living experience have supported the life-saving North Richmond supervised safe injecting service since its inception in 2018.
The Richmond service has prevented 7,049 heroin-related overdose deaths and provided 127,000 health and social support services on-site. Research shows the proposed second service in Melbourne’s CBD could have saved another 16 lives each year.
YSAS Youth Peer Advocate Daniel Robinson Croft is concerned by Premier Jacinta Allan’s decision to scrap plans for the second site despite the recommendation of former police commissioner Ken Lay’s report, which found the CBD has the highest rate of drug deaths in Victoria.
“It has been disappointing to find out that the Allan government has ignored the need for a second injecting room in the CBD despite vast amounts of supporting evidence.
“Without a supervised space for people to consume their substances many Victorians, including young Victorians, will continue to suffer from the negative repercussions caused by neglecting the basic needs of people who use drugs,” Robinson Croft said.
YSAS continues to support the urgent establishment of overdose prevention centres across Victoria and urges the premier to reconsider this decision to save lives and prevent more drug-related deaths.
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About YSAS (Youth Support + Advocacy Service)
The Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS) is Australia’s largest, youth-specific community service organisation. Operating since 1998 as Victoria’s flagship Youth Alcohol and Other Drug service, YSAS now employs over 400 skilled staff across 19 sites in metropolitan and regional Victoria. While the prime focus of YSAS remains on effective Youth AOD treatment and sector leadership, the organisation also has extensive experience in providing young people and families with services that support improved mental health and meaningful community participation.