Abstract
The situation regarding heroin addicts in Norway gives cause for considerable concern. Harm reduction measures are seen as an important supplement to current assistance and treatment provisions for drug addicts. Introducing public injection rooms has been proposed as a component of the overall harm reduction strategy. The article discusses arguments put forward in the Norwegian debate concerning the injecting room initiative. Will public injecting rooms reduce the relatively high number of drug-related deaths? Will public injecting rooms help improve the generally bad health of drug addicts? Will public injecting rooms contribute to enhancing drug addicts' sense of dignity and self-worth? One of the motivations behind the introduction of public injecting rooms is to enable the social and health authorities to get in touch with drug addicts. Is this realistic? Will public injection rooms facilitate the misuse of drugs? What about public injecting rooms in light of UN conventions on drugs and national legislation in Norway? Would public injecting rooms be of any real help in relation to the many problems heroin addicts face on a daily basis?