A special venue where intravenous drug-users can legally inject, is being considered to stamp out the menace of dirty syringes littering the streets of York.

York's Drug and Alcohol Reference Group (DARG) will discuss the idea of a consumption room, sometimes known as a legal "shooting gallery", when it meets next month.

Consumption rooms, already operating on the Continent, work like a needle exchange - but the syringes never leave the building.

Drug workers are battling to combat the problem of dirty syringe litter and believe open discussion of all possible solutions is vital if the problem is to be tackled.

City centre businesses are expressing concern about the syringes in the streets damaging York's image and DARG is keen to involve them in the debate about what can be done.

Roland Harris, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Businesses are concerned because York thrives on being able to attract visitors and attract business people, some of whom will be potential investors.

"We always want to display the city in the best possible light but we know we have to be realistic.

"There are genuine concerns about what can be done and what needs to be done to resolve the problem."

Hugo Luck, co-ordinator of York and North Yorkshire's drugs action team, said that it fully appreciated levels of concern and was investigating a number of ways of tackling the problem.

But he said the Department of Health and the Drug Tsar, Keith Hellawell, believe insufficient research has been carried out for consumption rooms to be introduced in Britain.

"We are not being complacent and the proof of that is return rates of syringes are improving," said Mr Luck.

"We will specifically be discussing the pros and cons of a consumption room at our meeting on November 10."

Other ideas being put forward to clean up the streets include:

Needles being handed out individually rather than in packs of ten

A mobile needle exchange

Sharp bins for used syringes put in public areas

Developing ways of collecting dumped syringes more quickly.

Drug agencies doing outreach work in communities

Introducing syringes which retract their point needle after they are used.

Drug users themselves admit there is a problem but told the Evening Press that a consumption room may not be the solution.

One former addict, who wished to remain anonymous, said most users want do a safe, warm and private place to inject but he doubted the consumption room would provide that.

"Heroin is an evil drug and can really change people's behaviour," he said.

"There will be homeless people who want clean needles and somewhere safe go but equally there are people who are just thieves and bullies.

"We used to call them 'taxers' they prey upon the homeless and people using drugs centres and take their money and whatever else they find on them.

"If there was one place to go it would make it easy for them.

"However much I was gagging for a hit I'd go home.

"Heroin gives you a buzz but also a feeling of relaxation - so you want be safe in your bed - not in some dingy public toilet and then out into the cold."

See Kicking the habit

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