• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Drug Policy and Law
  • Harm Reduction
  • Activism
  • Video Database
  • About Us
  • EN
    • HU
    • RU

Denmark Legalizes Consumption Rooms

June 14, 2012 | Author: Péter Sárosi

Tweet

The Danish parliament has voted in favour of legalizing the operation of supervised consumption rooms.

A majority of Danish MPs have voted in favour of a bill that makes it legal to consume illicit drugs within supervised facilities that the law classifies as “safe drug consumption rooms”. Denmark is the first country to have passed legislation to regulate the operation of such facilities. The decision was supported by 63 MPs, with 43 voting against and one MP abstaining. These safe drug consumption rooms are not only open for drug injectors but allow other forms of use as well, such as smoking, which is less risky than injection. According to harm reduction activists, consumption rooms have never been illegal in Denmark. “In a constitutional state, what is not specifically illegal, is simply legal,” said Nanna Gotfredsen, the head of Street Lawyers (join them on Facebook!), an NGO which has been advocating for safe consumption rooms for several years. However, the new law puts an ends to any debate as to the legality of such facilities, which will be able to operate with governmental support from the 1st of July, when the law comes into effect.

Watch the HCLU's 2009 movie about the Street Lawyers of Coppenhagen!

The HCLU's short movie from 2012 about the new safer injection van shows a new innovative project in Copenhagen that can serve as a model of good practice.

Denmark currently has one of the highest overdose death rates in the European Union. Contrary to common belief, overdose is a preventable cause of death, and its prevention does not cost a lot of money: all that is required, is to provide skills and tools for preventing loss of life, and a safe environment for drugs to be used.

Posted by Peter Sarosi

Filed Under: Articles Topics: Drug Consumption Rooms, Drug Policy and Law

Access to this article is free - but to produce articles and videos is not. Drugreporter is a non-profit website that needs your support to provide you with high quality contents.

Become a supporter and make a donation of 5 $ today!

Primary Sidebar

BECOME A SUPPORTER OF DRUGREPORTER! INVEST THE PRICE OF A COFFEE MONTHLY AND MAKE SURE DRUGREPORTER KEEPS RUNNING!
Subscribe to the Newsletter!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

In our new online video show, we regularly discuss new developments in the world of drug policy with professionals, activists and decision makers. You can also listen to the Drugreporter Café in Podcast format on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

COVID-19 Harm Reduction Update

On this info page Drugreporter provides regular updates about resources and news on how harm reduction service providers respond to the COVID-19 Epidemic.

Browse our video database!

Hundreds of videos on drug policy, harm reduction and human rights for streaming and download, also on a world map!

Drugreporter Video Advocacy Network

Browse videos produced by members of our Drugreporter Video Advocacy Network, from all around the world!

An animated documentary movie based on the original audio recording of Kostya Proletarsky, a drug user and HIV activist who died as a result of mistreatment and torture at a Russian prison. Animation and design by Lili Rontó. Directed and Edited by István Gábor Takács. Narrated by Anya Sarang. Festival appearances, news and resources are available here!

Russian language videos on drug policy, harm reduction and human rights.

Browse our topics here!

Activism Count the Costs COVID-19 Criminalisation Dose of Science Drug Consumption Rooms Drug Policy and Law Drugreporter Café Drugreporter News European Drug Policy Harm Reduction Hepatitis HIV/AIDS Interviews Just Say Know Video Series Lessons for Drug Policy Series Marijuana Policies Medical Marijuana Needle and syringe programs New Psychoactive Substances Opiate Substitution Overdose Prevention Psychedelic Medicines Regulation and Control Russian Drug Policy Sex Work TAKING BACK WHAT'S OURS! Documentary Series The Andrey Rylkov Foundation UN Drug policy US Drug Policy

Footer

Rights Reporter Foundation
Hungary, 1032 Budapest
San Marco Street 70.
Email: rightsreporter@rightsreporter.net

Search

Our other websites:

The Rights Reporter Foundation

The Autocracy Analyst

Room for Change Campaign

Room in the 8th District Campaign

A Day in the Life movie website

Drugreporter