Tuesday 26 March 2019

The British HIV Association (BHIVA) expresses its strong support for the introduction of a pilot Safer Drug Consumption Facility (SDCF) in Glasgow in a letter of 26 March to Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP. This proposal is also backed by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government. It is in response to serious concerns about the ongoing outbreak of recently acquired HIV infection in people who inject drugs in Glasgow.

Since 2015 there have been more than 130 new cases in this population, in a highly localised outbreak affecting Glasgow city centre. The SDCF will help to reduce drug related deaths, increase the reach of HIV and hepatitis C testing and treatment services, and contribute to the reduction of blood borne virus transmission.

Substantial international evidence from SDCFs in more than 90 sites worldwide clearly demonstrates the positive impact of this strategy on the health and recovery of individuals injecting drugs, as well as offering benefits to the wider community. SDCFs reduce public injection, discarding and sharing of needles, improve uptake of care and treatment, and result in overall cost savings in healthcare usage.

Click here to read the letter.

For further information, please contact Jo Josh on +44 (0) 7787 530922 or [email protected].