Review of the Medically Supervised Injecting Room 2020

A medically supervised injecting room (MSIR) provides a safer place for people to inject drugs of dependence in a supervised health setting. It is an alternative to injecting at home or in public, where people are more likely to die, suffer other harms from drug use, and raise risks and concerns for family members or the general public. MSIRs can also be a gateway that helps people who inject drugs access other health and social support services, including drug treatment and rehabilitation.

The Victoria Government established a trial of a MSIR and it is saving lives. In its first 18 months of operation, MSIR staff safely managed 2,657 overdoses, many of which may have been fatal or resulted in serious injury if they had happened outside the facility. Clients have made 119,223 visits to the MSIR, with 116,802 injections supervised.

An independent panel of experts was appointed by the Minister for Mental Health to review the operation and use of the MSIR, results during the trial against the stated objectives and the operation of the legislation and regulations.