Local Residents in NSW
"As a long-term resident and local businessman, I remember the needles in the gutter and the constant ambulances before MSIC opened. MSIC helps to contain the injecting of drugs in Kings Cross in a medically supervised environment, where users are offered assistance in placement to addiction rehabilitation programs. MSIC provides a vital and humane service to some of the most vulnerable and unfortunate in our society." Adrian Bartels, (local business owner and chairman of the Potts Point and Kings Cross District Partnership)
I have found one of the increasing problems is people driving to the area to score and then injecting. We have a metre before the kerb, so cars park there, they inject and they throw up by just winding down their windows, so sometimes when you open your door you can have this problem of vomit, and it is distressing seeing people injecting in the park with their children. I think it is trying the compassion of people who live in Caroline Street. Because we live in tiny houses we use the park, we are outside a lot, going to the shops and what-not, and I think that is trying the compassion of people. It is really upsetting seeing small children with their parents who are using. I think it is distressing for the children. (Haines, Evidence 9 October 1997)
I live on the first floor of my building and I have witnessed many times people injecting in their cars, which then drive off. You notice when you look down, a car with a cigarette lighter lit in the car. It is perfectly obvious what they are doing. It is lit for quite some time while they are heating the heroin in the spoon ready to inject. We see this happen day in and day out. (Kemp, Evidence 8 October 1997)
In dealing with injecting drug users you get certain intervention points and since we started the first needle exchange here, we have had an intervention point where we can expose them to education, relate to them and talk to them about behaviour changes and so forth. With a safe injecting room, you suddenly do get so much longer period of time in which to interact with these people. I have seen this work at the injecting rooms in the Cross, whereby there is no jury to get out of the place. In fact, they are feeling quite often relatively mellow, having used the facilities and are accessible and open to information being given to them. (Griffin, Evidence 7 October 1997)
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE SITUATION
The use of addictive drugs is a voluntary action and if the person becomes an addict to heroin, morphine etc it is for the want of a better word and the law abiding citizens and society owes the addict nothing. The suggestion of safe injecting rooms for drug addicts is revolting, vulgar and an insult to all law abiding citizens who face every day problems without turning to drugs. Safe injecting rooms would be a reward for illegal actions and would encourage week willed persons to follow the same road. (Smith, Submission 6)
I have found one of the increasing problems is people driving to the area to score and then injecting. We have a metre before the kerb, so cars park there, they inject and they throw up by just winding down their windows, so sometimes when you open your door you can have this problem of vomit, and it is distressing seeing people injecting in the park with their children. I think it is trying the compassion of people who live in Caroline Street. Because we live in tiny houses we use the park, we are outside a lot, going to the shops and what-not, and I think that is trying the compassion of people. It is really upsetting seeing small children with their parents who are using. I think it is distressing for the children. (Haines, Evidence 9 October 1997)
I live on the first floor of my building and I have witnessed many times people injecting in their cars, which then drive off. You notice when you look down, a car with a cigarette lighter lit in the car. It is perfectly obvious what they are doing. It is lit for quite some time while they are heating the heroin in the spoon ready to inject. We see this happen day in and day out. (Kemp, Evidence 8 October 1997)
In dealing with injecting drug users you get certain intervention points and since we started the first needle exchange here, we have had an intervention point where we can expose them to education, relate to them and talk to them about behaviour changes and so forth. With a safe injecting room, you suddenly do get so much longer period of time in which to interact with these people. I have seen this work at the injecting rooms in the Cross, whereby there is no jury to get out of the place. In fact, they are feeling quite often relatively mellow, having used the facilities and are accessible and open to information being given to them. (Griffin, Evidence 7 October 1997)
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE SITUATION
The use of addictive drugs is a voluntary action and if the person becomes an addict to heroin, morphine etc it is for the want of a better word and the law abiding citizens and society owes the addict nothing. The suggestion of safe injecting rooms for drug addicts is revolting, vulgar and an insult to all law abiding citizens who face every day problems without turning to drugs. Safe injecting rooms would be a reward for illegal actions and would encourage week willed persons to follow the same road. (Smith, Submission 6)
