Glasgow Overdose Prevention Service to visit Llanelli

On the 14th March, Peter Krykant’s former Overdose Prevention Service Van will be visiting Wales. Peter set up this service in 2020, without legal sanction, in Glasgow, as a response to the growing overdose issue and HIV rates among people who inject drugs, in the city. In the 12 months it operated, the van facilitated over 1,000 injecting episodes, reversed multiple overdoses and subsequently saved many lives and did not see any deaths. In partnership with Transform Drug Policy Foundation and Anyone’s Child, Barod have organised for the van to visit Llanelli town centre on the 14th March as an opportunity for people to have a look around the van and discuss how such a harm reduction intervention operates.

Currently, there are no Overdose Prevention Services/ Drug Consumption Rooms/ Supervised Injecting Facilities currently in operation in the UK, despite over 110 being so world-wide as local and national responses to various drug related issues including drug-related-deaths, discarded paraphernalia and growing infection rates, such as HIV and Hepatitis, among those who use drugs in public spaces.

This is an opportunity to have a look at a unique harm reduction intervention, talk to experts regarding such facilities, as well as discuss any questions you may have about the objectives and feasibility of overdose prevention services. We will also have representation from DDAS, who will be available to discuss current overdose responses and provide access to naloxone, on the day..

So please feel free to come and visit us on Monday 14th March between 1pm – 4pm at Central Square, Vaughan Street, Llanelli, SA15 3TY. For more information email Rob Barker – rob.barker@barod.cymru

(Please note the van is no longer in operation as an overdose prevention service and will not be so, when in Wales. Also, Llanelli is being used as a one location within its tour of Wales and it is not to be assumed that we are currently advocating for such services to be established in the area, at present).