RCN welcomes reported success of injecting clinics

Published: 15 September 2009

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today welcomed findings from the Randomised Injectable Opioid Treatment Trial (RIOTT), which indicated that injecting clinics could significantly reduce the amount of "street" heroin used by "entrenched" users who have not benefitted from other interventions.

Dr Peter Carter of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:

"It is encouraging that these pilot studies have yielded such positive results for heroin users who have not benefitted from other schemes. As well as reducing the immediate problems caused by buying drugs on the street, injecting clinics offer drug users a chance to move on from a life of crime and despair. These clinics also provide a valuable window of opportunity where nurses can offer the necessary information and health promotion advice needed to improve the long-term health prospects of drug users. We would encourage the government to build on this trial and to expand the availability of these clinics."

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Notes for Editors

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Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.