Greece has opened its first drug consumption room in an attempt to contain the spreading of infectious diseases among users.
In an attempt to curb its rising HIV rates, the country said consumption rooms are safe places for heroin addicts to inject drugs. The heroin, however, won't be provided -- the user has to bring his own. The consumption rooms, though, will carry government-provided clean needles and medical staff are on site to supervise usage.
"Demand is increasing day after day and we believe that very soon we may need more facilities in other parts of the city," said Sakis Papaconstantinou, the head of OKANA which runs the center, according to Reuters.
During the height of the country's financial crisis in 2011-2012, health spending was slashed. As a result, there has been a considerable increase in HIV patients.
Greece isn't the first country to open a drug consumption room. Since 1986, more than 90 DCRs have been set up in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, Norway, Canada and Australia, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
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