Josh Torrance (PhD student and Assistant Teacher, School for Policy Studies)
Much of this research is based on personal emails and conversations with the police and other agencies. As such, not all of the facts presented are referenceable.
Covid-19 will present a major challenge to both drug users and drug treatment agencies over the coming months. There are 320,000 problematic drug users in the UK, many of whom have weaker immune systems than the general public – and therefore a diminished chance of recovery from the virus. People who inject drugs and street homeless communities are at particular risk; viral infections spread quickly through these populations. On the face of it, the pandemic might seem like a fantastic opportunity for problematic users to become drug-free, but the reality is much more complex.
A used needle left on grass.