Uniting supports North Richmond Medically Supervised Injecting Room

Published

November 22, 2018

Woman hands syringe to someone

Today the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania and its community services organisation, Uniting Vic.Tas, have expressed disappointment at the announcement by the Victorian Liberal Leader Matthew Guy that he would close the North Richmond Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) if the Coalition win this weekend’s State election.

Paul Linossier, CEO of Uniting Vic.Tas said “These centres save lives. They support some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our community, improve public health, and reduce risks to individuals and the wider community.”

The Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Sydney, run by Uniting NSW.ACT and the first of its kind in Australia, has supervised more than a million injections and treated thousands of overdoses without a single death since opening in 2001. Since it opened in July, 320 people have been treated in the North Richmond facility for overdoses that would have been life-threatening outside the facility. Uniting supports the Medically Supervised Injecting Room by providing dedicated overdose prevention staff.

Moderator of the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania, Rev Sharon Hollis said “Around the world, safe injecting rooms are effective in preventing overdose deaths and engaging vulnerable community members in drug treatment and support services.

“We believe that the problem of drug use needs allied health and welfare supports. By providing decent, clean, comfortable facilities, we are signalling that these people are worthy of respect, as well as minimising the effect on the local community.”

Read more about the Uniting NSW.ACT MSIC in Sydney.

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