ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a study of drug users’ perspectives on using a drug consumption room (DCR). It presents their different varied experiences of using the DCR and their decisions about using drugs inside the DCR or somewhere else. The study analyses these experiences and considerations in terms of ‘trade-offs’ and ‘modes of use’. ‘Trade-offs’ involves how users consider benefits and drawbacks when using drugs in the DCR, as well as in other settings. Such trade-offs involve trade-offs between getting a desired intoxicating effect of a drug and reducing harm, or getting a desired intoxicating effect and enjoying the company of others when using drugs. Some users prefer to use drugs at home or in public space because noise or unruliness prevents them from getting the desired intoxicating effects. Others find the DCR as a good setting to get intoxicated. The term ‘modes of use’ is deployed in order to show the variability of ways in which drugs can be used and the different purposes that can be involved in using drugs. Such modes of use could be intoxication, self-medication, and removing withdrawal symptoms. A user can have different modes of use that can inform when and where to use drugs. The chapter is based on interviews with drug users from two studies at the open drug scene in Copenhagen conducted in 2017 and 2018. The chapter concludes that by having greater variability in modes of use a DCR can accommodate, the more users can be expected to use it.
