Shortly after the night-time economy reopened in July, a 21-year-old man died after becoming unwell at The Cause nightclub in Tottenham. Linked with a batch of dangerous pills sold as ecstasy, two others were taken to hospital for treatment[1].
Over 200 people died from drug poisoning related to opiates in London in 2020, which is more than from any other class of drugs[2].
In his 2021 manifesto, Sadiq Khan committed to establishing a London Drugs Commission, which will examine the effectiveness of current drug laws – but what strategies could be implemented now to reduce drug deaths in the capital?
The London Assembly Health Committee will meet on Monday to examine three potentially life-saving interventions: equipping frontline responders with naloxone, trialling drug consumption rooms, and installing drug testing facilities in nightclubs.
The guests are:
- Steve Rolles, Senior Policy Analyst, Transform
- Niamh Eastwood, Executive Director, Release
- Dr Prun Bijral, Medical Director, Change Grow Live
- Professor Alex Stevens, Professor in Criminal Justice, University of Kent
The meeting will take place on Monday, 18 October from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
1. Independent, Warnings over ‘dangerous’ high strength ecstasy pills after second death, 2 August 2021
2. ONS, Deaths related to drug poisoning by selected substances, 03 August 2021
4. Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Health Committee, is available for interview.
5. Find out more about the work of the Health Committee.
6. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Emma Bowden in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.