National Drug and Alcohol Awards

Celebrating Australian achievements to prevent
and reduce alcohol and other drug use and harm

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Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre wins prestigious national award

25th June 2009: The Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) is the winner of the prestigious “Excellence in Treatment and Support” award at this year’s National Drug and Alcohol Awards. The MSIC will be announced as the winner at the Gala Dinner of the National Drug & Alcohol Awards on Friday 26 June 2009 in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra.

The MSIC has had a major impact on both saving the lives of injecting drug users and improving the public amenity in Kings Cross. Colette McGrath, MSIC Clinical Services Manager said “When staff finish work at the end of the day they feel pretty good knowing that a life was saved, however it also serves as a stark reminder to us all, how dangerous drug use can be, and that human life is not just precious but fragile. Everyone deserves a chance to turn their lives around, the MSIC gives many injecting drug users who have overdosed in the centre just that, an opportunity that would otherwise not have occurred if the MSIC were not to exist.”

Since opening in May 2001, the MSIC has managed more than 2,700 drug overdoses without a single fatality. There has also been a staggering 80% drop in the number of ambulances called to the Kings Cross postcode since the MSIC has been operational. The MSIC has made over seven and a half thousand referrals to local health and social welfare services, about half of which have been for drug treatment.

MSIC Medical Director, Marianne Jauncey added “The MSIC has had a major impact on both saving the lives of injecting drug users and improving the public amenity in Kings Cross. The majority of businesses and residents in Kings Cross have consistently supported the MSIC – they supported it before it opened and they support it even more now because they’ve seen just how effective the service is.”

AER Chairman Scott Wilson said: “I commend and congratulate those who have made valuable contributions to treatment services and practice within the Alcohol and Other Drugs Sector.”

Competing finalists for the Treatment and Support award included The Buttery, Byron Bay NSW and The Women’s Health Service, Perth Western Australia. For more information on the National Drug & Alcohol Awards visit: www.drugawards.org.au

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