Should cities open drug “safe havens” where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?

depends what drug

Only if the safe havens have a duty of care to promote rehabilitation and there are plenty of accessible rehab centres

Yes, as a short term solution with the caveat that they are enrolled and are participating in a rehabilitation program

No, but expand access to rehabilitation, mental health services, and crisis intervention programs. Drug abuse should be treated as a health issue, but normalising drug use in public spaces risks undermining community safety and recovery.

Yes this would drastically reduce the drug overdose death rate, but I think there should also be a rehabilitation factor, where they should slowly be weaned off these drugs and get professional medical help. Then these places could replace rehabilitation centres. We should also review each case and decide whether they should be imprisoned or not when they are healthy, because while drug abuse is a medical issue, it is also a criminal issue.

Yes, but with programmes in place to reduce drug use over time, in conjunction with other interventions such as counselling, help with accommodation, housing, getting away from controlling relationships, money management, nutrition etc. We need holistic centres, which should be modern, clean and not run-down and depressing.

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No, drug addicts should be sectioned and removed from society to be forcedly weened off drugs and rehabilitated

It would be better to try it for some time and see what results it leads to, then maybe off of those results they can decide if they should keep going or close it and focus more on rehabilitation centers.

No. Increase sentences for people who do drugs and kill anyone who smuggles them into and around the country.

The idea could help reduce drug use but it could also encorouge more people to indulge in illegal drugs

No, but those in the midst of addiction should be treated with a degree of compassion and understanding. Whilst illegal drug use should be regarded as a criminal offense, there ought to be greater focus on reformation and rehabilitation for addicts.

I do believe that this will help the drug overdose rate however I think that it should be in combination of a rehabilitation center, because the main idea is to get less drug overdoses and to take illegal drugs off of the streets.

Only if it is contained and if the people who are looking after them are professional and that people who are admitted into these safe havens are not on dangerously class A drugs

No i don't believe the UK Government would be able to implement it effectively becoming more like Portland Oregon than places like Portugal funding is also needed for rehab not supply.

Cities should open "safe havens" where people addicted to illegal drugs can be HELPED by medical professionals to get over their addiction.

yes, if they are coming in to wean of the drug and are using it under medical supervision, lowering the dose in a monitored way and the person coming in actually wants to get better and isn't coming in just to use again. Patients must be monitored in-between the time they come in to make sure they are not using outside of their treatment plan

Yes but this should be aimed at rehabilitation. I don't see this as an ilness, it's a way of life that needs 'correcting'

If the relevant data shows having safe havens in place doesn’t show an increase in drug use then yes

No as I think it will likely encourage use. Like smoking and alcohol you know the risks but narcotics drugs are illegal period. Cold turkey.

People should be offered controlled drug intake for a certain amount of time and then be helped after a certain amount of that time

I think in most cases rehabilitation would be possible, but to avoid overdose this could in some circumstances be a way of avoiding death, though it is often their goal in the first place.

Yes, but medical professionals goal should be to treat addiction and help authorities to uncover illegal drug pushers/providers from patients who still buy besides the legal service

No, more focus and funding should be put on rehabilitation services and these working alongside mental health services

Yes, there should be rehabilitation centres where society are protected from them but drug users are monitored and treated accordingly.

I think this is a good idea to try and help wean them off rather than just letting them do them safely

Yes drugs should not be treated as a crime when used in safe places and should be treated as a mental health issue. These spaces are also necessary to keep addicts from overdosing.

However to be allowed to be kept in these areas for the dangerous/extremely addictive drugs you must show improves each week or month on a very small amount of reduction on your drug dosage which will be monitored and given by train professionals. If you keep relapsing /not cutting down on your dosage more than four times in the space of a year, then you will be banned from the safe haven for one year

Yes. But only with the understanding that they are to decrease the their use of drugs and it is not somewhere where they can progress in taking high doses/higher class drugs. To be used as part of programs for rehabilitation

If this service is to be offered then youngsters need a safe place too ie: Youth clubs. Homeless people could also benefit from a safe space. The list goes on

Yes, and no, I think this should only ever be used if someone is on a waiting list for rehabilitation and have not yet been able to access it. They need to show proof of that if a person is just going there to do drugs, it will encourage more people to do drugs which is bad.

To a degree, but this mustn't come with this is the norm and people can abuse the system. I would be all for rehabilitating most definitely. Maybe a trial and results would need to be put in place and if stats say this works, then I would be all for this.

Alternatively more help should be offered to those addicted in the way of counselling and rehabilitation

Yes, but would need to know what this would cost the taxpayer. I think legalizing certain drugs so they are produced and sold in a regulated environment is a good idea. However, the use of these drugs in public should still be illegal.

I do agree that those with drug issues should be provided with a level of support, i.e help with withdrawal etc but I think drug "save havens" is most definitely not the answer.

I think people would still do drugs regardless of the location, esp if they are a regular user they’re not going to want to sit with a “professional”

Yes, and have those that don't utilise this 'safe prevention' service pay towards their NHS care if it is related to 'preventable' drug abuse consequences.

I agree there should be safe havens for them to use it "safely" but it should also involve some sort of support for them to get them off it

Yes and no, there should be some centres accessible to reduce the mortality rate of overdoses but funding should still be centred around treatment for drug addictions

Drug abuse should be treated as a health/ mental health issue however, illegal substances should not be protected

I want to see drug addicts have more support especially if they are on the streets, but I struggle to imagine people using these safe havens. If I wanted to do drugs I wouldn't want to do them under supervision to be honest

Yes, but also have a system whereby people who access safe havens also get access to rehabilitation centres

More places for people to go to be weaned off of the drugs. Not just providing it as and when they need it.

Create safe havens for weed usage where it can be sold and used, add VAT to this, so it can be done under supervision and raise money.

There has to be another way to deal with this issue. Prevention, policing to stop drugs reaching people in the first place. This is a short term fix, we need a long term one.

While I don't agree because as I think this would be abused, I do think drug use should be treated as a medical issue as opposed to a criminal one.

Yes but these places should only be able to be used if you’re currently seeing a professional to get help.

Yes - there should be support but also regular assessments with a variety of intervention methods available where necessary.

Yes but I think there should also be support to help those people gradually come off those drugs and develop alternative coping skills. Often drug abuse is indicative of mental health issues

No, I believe implementing something like this would only encourage and reinforce addiction regardless of being supervised by medical professionals. With that being said, I believe drugs should be legalised, regulated and taxed.

Yes but, as part of that supervision they should also be offered other options such as prescription alternatives like methadone, and given help and guidance to help them get off drugs.

Yes, if the illegal drug is being used as a self medication and not just because of addiction caused by recreational use

Only in instances where it is to rehabilitate users, but there should also be more regulation, education and help for addiction and specifically in impoverished areas.

Funding should go to helping them stop drugs, by addressing the root of their need for them I.e. pain relief, anxiety etc

People who are addicted to drugs need education to reverse the brainwashing. You are not addicted to a drug until you take it. Drugs and societal beliefs cause addiction, crack down on organised crime. Alcohol is also an addictive drug that needs removing from our society, it causes more problems than any other drug

Only as a road to rehabilitation not to use as and when they want to continue to use as this would never end

No, but drug use should be treated as a healthcare issue so rehabilitation centres must be prioritised

Yes, This is necessary to reduce drug overdose, but i think that they should help them to quit using them

yes do it like switzerland where they make it like they slowly decrease the amount of drugs you take so that the addict gets less addicted and eventually recovers

Hard to see it as a good idea, but then people take drugs regardless, if a safe place is offered, the risks to them is lessened. It's hard to decide waht is best here

I feel an institute for drug addicts to go to be weaned of it with proper care and medical attention is important

Yes if the 'safe havens' were also able to offer advice and support to come off drugs and also offer pathways to rehab centres.

Yes and no. Yes to reduce the number of drugs on the street and drug related deaths. No, would drug users even use the services provided without making them mandatory after being found in possession.

Potentially but depends on the context of how this was introduced and what the outcomes were- could just encourage drug use rather than helping to curb it

The effects of the use of illeagle drugs should not be taken in isolation to the criminality and cause. Those who are responsible must also be part of the solution in finacial and time terms

Encourage users/addicts to come off the drugs so hopefully they will recover rather than just getting the drugs under supervision

I agree that drug abuse and addiction should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal issue but I think funding would be better spent elsewhere such as rehabilitation.

Make rehabilitation and prison aftercare more affective rather then adding a third option for addicts.

yes, but treatment should be given to try and get them off the drugs rather than just feed the habit and send them on their way, maybe each drug user could be paired up with someone who wants to fund the treatment, like a sponsor

This may encourage drug use so should only be available for people who are trying to stop using them and will need an official process to register for

No, “safe havens” should be focused on helping addicts drop their addictions. Help these people build meaningful relationships with the community. Encourage support of the community, give them a higher purpose.

No and people caught using illegal drugs should be forcibly rehabilitated and lose some of their rights

Illegal drug use has such a profound effect on society, by having safe havens/ legalisations this would eliminate the drug gangs free up police to deal with other crimes. Could be chargeable therefore bringing taxes into the economy rather than spending huge amounts on policing, courts, prisons and the health service.

More needs to be understood about why people choose to take drugs, legal or otherwise. Give young people more job opportunities and access to decent housing and give them realistic chance of getting on the property ladder. Introduce life skills into the school curriculum, ie how to save money and make it work for you, budgeting, costs of mortgage/rent and living expenses, benefits of starting a pension at a young age, explain lifetime ISA's etc. Educate young people about charities and places that can offer them help with financial worries and mental health issues. Give society the skills to live healthily and well, without drugs.

Yes a safe place for people to go to would be beneficial however it would drain funding if it were staffed by medical professionals. Safer drug use should be promoted.

Yes, but only for life threatening drugs. Recreational drugs should not be allowed in these "safe havens".

People with addictions who are trying to receive help to stop should be away from others still continuing to use drugs

No. The money this would cost should be spent on getting people addicted to drugs into the relevant treatment programs.

Maybe, it is in a safe environment but it is just another way for addicts to continue the use of harmful drugs which is dangerous

Yes because addicts should be able to use drugs safely but no because we shouldn’t be encouraging drug use

Yes as long as it is used as means to clean up the users and the illegal drugs are not provided by the centres

Yes, however the medical professionals that are supervising should be employed for this purpose only. It would be counterproductive if they had duel roles within the NHS or medical sector.

No safe havens would lead to certain areas become drug zones. Treat the problem uk wide rather than criminalize addicts. Safe regulated drugs are better than black market

Combine this with rehabilitation centres. So they are safe and monitored but will also have rehabilitation help

Yes as this will help crime rates and death rates and if people are going to do it at least it will be in a safe place

Certain drugs should be legalized but things such as Heroin that provide no benefits should be illegal

Prob worthwhile from experiments elsewhere in getting people off the street and off drugs but I think drugs should still be illegal

Yes, but a service that helps and supports those with an addiction to stop using drugs should also be offered in conjuction.

There should be a safe place to go without fear of criminal legal action against them. I think this would prevent drug related deaths and have trained medical and social staff to help run the service and encourage rehabilitation rather than jail time and stimatisation

Government issue drugs and cost of drugs to be at market rates which will offset cost of GP and Psychiatrist to help individuals tackle reason for drug taking and get them off the drugs - cutting off the route for illegal drugs and drugs gangs. Also ensures fewer deaths.

Only if people agree to accept help to withdraw. This should be compulsory for those who've committed drug related crime.

I feel this question opens a lot more debate as on the face seems a good idea but what if a person dies on the medical person helping them are they then liable for letting them take a dangerous drug

Yes, it should be treated as a health issue. Pay for it by legalising drugs and taxing them like other legal drugs (alcohol and nicotine)

Yes treat the people, help them get to the reason for their addiction and help them find agencies that can help

Yes but every patient needs to be treated individually and I wonder how hard it would be to tell the difference between making sure they're not ODing on potentially laced drugs and making sure their addiction isn't enabled.

I think there should be more support and rehabilitation and family members should be able to admit family members who need help instead of someone under in influence making the choice

Depends on how willing they are to recover, no point wasting time and space for someone who will go straight back to their own ways because they want to

Yes it is a health issue not a criminal one. but alongside these havens should be a system in place that supports them to tackle their addiction

No I don’t believe it would be used as not conducive to behaviour of addicts - people wouldn’t engage with the idea

Yes, but only in areas with high drug related deaths, and only as a form of pre-rehab or for those who cannot devote time to rehab/withdrawal