Bereaved father says son needed safe drug space

A father whose son died from a drug overdose said he would still be alive if he had had "the protection" of a safe space to take them.

Brian, from Salisbury, is among campaigners who want mobile 'fix rooms' - safe spaces in which addicts can take drugs while supervised - legalised.

His son, Tom, died the day before his 35th birthday.

An Overdose Prevention Van used by drug addicts in Glasgow has travelled to Bristol to show how such spaces work.

However mobile 'fix rooms' are currently illegal in the UK and the government said there were no plans to introduce them.

Brian said: "The shame attached to using drugs was something Tom really really struggled with.

"I think he'd be with us today if he'd had the support and protection that is needed when someone is in pain - rather than being punished for it."

Campaigners said the converted minibus offered a hygienic and safe space for addicts to use their drugs under supervision.

It has, so far, been used in Glasgow by about 1,000 drug users.

Drug reform campaigners hope it will one day be allowed to operate in Bristol.

Recent figures from Bristol City Council showed the city had eight drug-related deaths per 100,000 people compared to the overall England rate of five per 100,000.

"I think the crime commissioner and the government are living in cloud cuckoo land," said Peter Krykant, who is taking the van on a tour of the UK.

"They've got blood on their hands.

"That's what I would say to those people who say we need to get more rehab facilities.

"These facilities could crucially support people to use more safely but also support people into treatment."

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Mark Shelford said he would "look and listen to new ideas" but he supported the government position.

"It's absolutely clear it's illegal," he said.

"I want to work with health partners to get people off drugs rather than facilitating people taking drugs."

A Home Office statement said: "The government has no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms in the UK.

"A range of crimes would be committed in the course of running such a facility.

"Our approach on drugs remains clear.

"We must prevent drug use in our communities, support people through treatment and recovery, and tackle the supply of illegal drugs."

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