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Drug consumption rooms (DCRs) to reduce injecting risk behaviour

Summary of the evidence

Rating
  • Unknown effectiveness

DCRs were found to be effective in a systematic review without meta-analysis (Kennedy et al., 2017, 47 studies), in:

  • reducing injecting risk behaviour (syringe sharing, syringe exchange and safer practices) (9 studies).

Also confirmed by a review of reviews (MacArthur et al., 2014, N=25 reviews) and another  systematic review (Potier et al., 2014).

Details

Note: this evidence summary is only valid for the outcomes, target groups, settings and substances/patterns of use described below.

Name of response option
  • Drug consumption rooms (DCRs)
Desired outcome(s)
  • reduce risk behaviours
Area(s)
  • Harm reduction
Specific substance or pattern of use
  • amphetamines
  • opioids
Target group(s) or setting(s)
  • PWID – people who inject drugs

References

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