According to the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL), overdose deaths have increased in Finland in recent years.
The Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Aki Linden has expressed support for a trial of supervised drug use facilities in an effort to prevent overdoses.
Drug use rooms have become common in other parts of the world, but are not currently available in Finland.
The rooms can be entered in one municipality at a time, such as Helsinki, for example, Linden told Yle.
The ruling Greens, the Left Alliance and the Swedish People’s Party (SPP) have also officially expressed their intent to support such a plan.
Lindén said he will submit an official proposal to the health and social services working group this month, calling for an investigation into the legislative processes needed to implement the concept.
The actual implementation of the process will be in the hands of the next government, as parliamentary elections are scheduled for next spring.
“However, we can now start preparations,” Lindén said.
Support for tweeting from different parties
Lindén had previously expressed skepticism about the concept, saying the focus should instead be on prevention, access to treatment and greater cooperation between authorities.
“I belong to the generation that remembers how larger amounts of drugs would arrive in Finland in the early 1960s. I remember the very effective and powerful prevention efforts,” Lindén told Yle.
At the same time, “we should never judge a person who has gotten into trouble,” Lindén added.
Also a supporter of the drug chamber trial, the Finnish Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen (Left), thanks Minister Lindén for his support on twitter (siirryt toiseen palveluun).
“The Left Alliance supports the creation of legislation that would allow for the implementation of occupancy spaces. The aim is to reduce the number of drug-related deaths. We wholeheartedly support Secretary Linden’s intention to launch the investigation. move forward now.” she wrote.
chairman of the Swedish Parliamentary Group, Anders Adlercreutz Yle also told the SPP that Lindén’s proposal is admissible, adding that the party favored drug testing chambers.
