MEDIA RELEASE – 23 APRIL 2024 - Second Melbourne injecting site scrapped: Penington Institute calls for more consultation in government’s 'statewide action plan’.

Mr Ryan warned, though, that failure to consult with the sector on the implementation of the plan, or any delays in bolstering support services would come at a cost of further lives. [...] He urged the government to listen to the experts in the field and ensure that they steered investment where it is most needed, and without delay. [...] “Penington welcomes the prospect of a Victoria’s first statewide strategy to address drug harms over the long term and urges government to take a partnership approach to the development of this strategy. [...] “What we do know is that the drug problem is getting worse in Victoria, and the there is no time to waste with addressing that problem.” Research shows that at least two people die of heroin overdoses in Melbourne's CBD every month. [...] That review found that in the first five years since its establishment in 2018, the MSIR trial in North Richmond had succeeded in achieving its central objective of saving lives.