2024-11-18 13:55:00
A user smokes crack in the smoking room of the Argos lower risk consumption room (SCMR), in Strasbourg, October 6, 2021. PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP
Its contents undoubtedly explain why it has not yet been made public. Contrary to the very critical positions of the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who said he was unfavorable to “shooting rooms”, the report on addiction treatment centers (HSA) – their current name – commissioned by the government for inspections in the spring, clearly argues in their favor. In the document of around sixty pages – excluding annexes – that the World was able to consult, the inspectors of social affairs (IGAS) and administration (IGA), call for “register in common law” these devices, still under experimental status, “in order to provide, in law, the possibility of opening new spaces for supervised consumption”.
Commissioned by the ministers of health and the interior, this evaluation was to help the government decide on the future of these devices, which are still regularly controversial, suffering from a “marked lack of social acceptability by city dwellers living near the premises”we read in the mission letter. They “can sometimes be perceived by certain actors”outside the circles health, “more like a support for consumption than [comme] the possibility offered to consumers to enter a care pathway”. Ministers asked inspections to assess the « pertinence » of these rooms – France has two, one in Paris and the other in Strasbourg – in terms of health as well as in terms of of public order. Upstream of a new scientific evaluation which must be carried out before the end of the experiment (set for December 1, 2025).
After hearing the stakeholders concerned, including the police services and public prosecutors, the mission recommends “bring the current experiment to its conclusion”. “The closure [des] two HSAs would degrade public peace, endanger users with very precarious living conditions and unnecessarily mobilize police forces to manage consumption in public spaces, underline the rapporteurs ; it would come at the wrong time, in a context of increased availability of narcotics, while addiction professionals are warning of “the rising wave”. »
Also read our 2017 article| First “shooting room”: one year later, a positive overall assessment according to the Paris town hall
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Politically, the subject, defended during Emmanuel Macron’s first five-year term by the former Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, has lost all voice. “Public risk reduction policy, of which addiction treatment centers are an integral part, must benefit from unambiguous support at all levels”write the inspectors.
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What are the potential health benefits of implementing supervised consumption rooms in France?
**Interview with Dr. Claire Dubois, Public Health Expert, on the Recent Findings Regarding Supervised Consumption Rooms in France**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Dubois. There’s been significant controversy surrounding supervised consumption rooms (SCMR) in France, particularly with the government report suggesting their legalization despite pushback from figures like Minister Bruno Retailleau. What were your impressions of the report?
**Dr. Dubois**: Thank you for having me. The report is quite compelling, as it provides a comprehensive analysis of the benefits of supervised consumption rooms. It highlights the potential for such spaces to offer a safe environment for users, ultimately guiding them towards treatment options. This aligns with harm reduction strategies that have proven effective in other countries.
**Editor**: The report notes a “marked lack of social acceptability” from locals near these facilities. Why do you think this is the case?
**Dr. Dubois**: Many residents may feel that these facilities attract drug use and related crime to their neighborhoods, which can understandably create fear and resistance. However, community education about the purpose and success of these rooms in reducing public drug use and improving health outcomes is vital in changing perceptions.
**Editor**: The government has yet to make a public decision on the future of SCMR, despite the report’s recommendations. What do you think are the broader implications for public health policy if they choose not to follow through?
**Dr. Dubois**: If the government dismisses these findings, it risks missing an opportunity to tackle addiction comprehensively. Instead of merely policing drug use, we need to focus on prevention and treatment pathways. Failing to establish these rooms could lead to higher rates of overdose and societal costs associated with untreated addiction.
**Editor**: In light of this report, what steps do you believe need to be taken moving forward?
**Dr. Dubois**: Firstly, it’s crucial to engage with community members, local leaders, and health professionals to foster a collaborative approach. Secondly, the government should consider pilots in various regions to observe firsthand the impact of these facilities. Lastly, ongoing monitoring and research will help refine the program to address community concerns effectively.
**Editor**: Thank you, Dr. Dubois, for your insights on this important issue. Your expertise offers a valuable perspective as the conversation around supervised consumption rooms continues in France.
**Dr. Dubois**: Thank you for having me; it’s essential we keep discussing and addressing these critical public health issues.
