Creating Safer Consumption Spaces in Europe: Evolving Contexts and Implications for Policy

Correlation - European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN) released a policy brief providing an overview of the state of the art regarding Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs). The document explores developments, challenges and needs in the work of DCRs, as well as provides an overview of recommendations and examples of good practices for policymakers who wish to support these harm reduction interventions.

The policy brief draws from the activities of the European Network of Drug Consumption Rooms (ENDCR) and, in particular, from the DCR Technical Meetings organised by the ENDCR and the European Union Drugs Agency in 2023 and 2024, respectively, in Lisbon, Portugal and Athens, Greece. These meetings gathered DCR representatives from all over Europe to discuss key updates, monitoring, capacity building and advocacy needs and plans.

A separate report as a result of a study, conducted by C-EHRN, provides a detailed overview of the range, scope and structure of care services for people who use drugs currently provided by DCRs in Europe. Access the report ’Drug Consumption Rooms in Europe – operational overview’ here.

A documentary ’Drug Consumption rooms around the world’, co-produced by C-EHRN and Drugreporter, tells why DCRs were established, how they support their local communities and how these life-saving harm reduction facilities have evolved over time. Today, more than 140 legally-sanctioned DCRs operate in 11 European countries, as well as in Australia, Canada, Mexico and the USA.

Watch the documentary here.