Judge clears way for US’s first drug consumption room

A judge has ruled that opening a drug consumption room in Philadelphia would not violate federal drug laws.1

The ruling came after the US Justice Department launched a legal challenge in an attempt to stop the non-profit group Safehouse opening a drug consumption room. This would be the first US site where people could go to use illegal opioids under medical supervision.

While the Justice Department argued that such a room would be unlawful, the judge ruled in favour of Safehouse as he said the purpose of such a place would be to “reduce drug use, not facilitate it.”

Deaths from overdoses have been rising across …