Boston charity plans to open US's first room for supervised heroin highs

The room would come with soft chairs, a nurse and basic life-saving equipment

Andrew Buncombe

New York

Wednesday 04 November 2015 14:31 GMT

(Getty)

A charity in Boston is planning to open the US’s first “drop in centre” where heroin users could ride out a high under medical supervision.

In a proposal that has sparked both praise and criticism, the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Programme (BHCHP) wants to establish a room with a nurse, soft chairs and basic medical equipment for drug users to be safe while coming down off a heroin high.

The group stresses that it does not want the place to become a location where users would inject. But it would provide a safe environment away from the streets while people rode out the drug rush.

The planned centre - which does not yet have funding - would be located at the junction of Massachusetts Ave and Albany Street, an area that is known as a place where opiate users congregate. Local people call it “Methadone Mile”.

The workers involved in the project say the idea was borne out of the experience of stepping over overdosed drug users as they made their way to the clinic’s offices.

“The epidemic feels like it’s been crescendoing on this block,” Dr Jessie Gaeta, the BHCHP chief medical officer, told WBUR radio. “We’ve got to try new things.”

She added: “It really is the epicenter of opiate overdose in Boston.”

There have for months been conversations among opiate addiction providers about creating a Supervised Injection Facility in Boston. Nine countries around the world have such facilities — where men and women inject heroin or ingest other illegal drugs, under the guidance of a nurse or other medical professional. The only one in North America is in Vancouver.

HCHP has asked local foundations to help fund the $250,000 cost of the “safe space.” A nurse and street outreach worker would move among 10 or so users to check breathing, other vitals and general health.

“If you overdose, we’re going to be able to respond immediately, save your life,” said Ms Gaeta.

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Show all 10

1/10World's 10 deadliest street drugs

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Whoonga

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Scopolamine

Scopolamine is a derivative from the nightshade plant found in the Northern Indian region of South America (Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela). It is generally found in a refined powder form, but can also be found as a tea. The drug is more often used by criminals due its high toxicity level (one gram is believed to be able to kill up to 20 people) making it a strong poison. However, it is also believed that the drug is blown into the faces of unexpecting victims, later causing them to lose all sense of self-control and becoming incapable of forming memories during the time they are under the influence of the drug. This tactic has reportedly been used by gangs in Colombia where there have been reports of people using scopolamine as way to convince victims to rob their own homes

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Heroin

Founded in 1874 by C. R. Alder Wright, heroin is one of the world’s oldest drugs. Originally it was prescribed as a strong painkiller used to treat chronic pain and physical trauma. However in 1971 it was made illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Since then it has become one of the most destructive substances in the world, tearing apart communities and destroying families. The side effects of heroin include inflammation of the gums, cold sweats, a weak immune system, muscular weakness and insomnia. It can also damage blood vessels which can later cause gangrene if left untreated

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Crack cocaine

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Crystal meth

Not just famous because of a certain Walter H White, but also because it is one of the most destructive drugs in the world. First developed in 1887, it became widely used during the Second World War when both sides would give it to their troops to keep them awake. It is also believed that the Japanese gave it to their Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war crystal meth was prescribed as a diet aid and remained legal until the 1970s. Since then it has fallen into the hands of Mexican gangs and has become a worldwide phenomenon, spreading throughout Europe and Asia. The effects of crystal meth are devastating. In the short-term users will become sleep depraved and anxious, and in the long-term it will cause their flesh to sink, as well as brain damage and damage of the blood vessels

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AH-7921

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Flakka

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Bath salts

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Purple Drank

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Krokodil

Krokodil is Russia’s secret addiction. It is believed that over one million Russians are addicted to the drug. Users of krokodil are attracted to the drug due to its low price; it is sold at £20 a gram while heroin is sold for £60. However, krokodil is considered more dangerous than heroin because it is often homemade, with ingredients including painkillers, iodine, lighter fluid and industrial cleaning agents. This chemical make-up makes the drug highly dangerous and likely to cause gangrene, and eventually rotting of the flesh

“We’re going to talk to you about treatment options, we’re going to offer it, ideally, on demand, like the moment you’re interested in methadone maintenance or Suboxone or a detox programme, we’re going to work like heck to get you in that day.”

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