Drug recovery hub in library hailed a success

A controversial decision to open an addiction recovery centre in a library has been hailed a major success.

Newcastle City Council announced its decision to open the drug and alcohol addiction recovery hub at Fenham Library in 2018.

More than 3,000 people signed a petition opposing the project over fears local children would not be safe and claimed the community was not properly consulted.

However, Labour councillor Joyce McCarty, who represents the Wingrove ward, said the concerns raised had been unfounded and the council had not received any complaints about the hub.

"I think the investment in Fenham Library has been really successful," she said.

"At the time, there were quite a lot of concerns in the community but putting the substance misuse service in the community is exactly where it ought to be.

"It has not been a problem at all."

The hub offers services including counselling, peer support groups, and help for young people affected by substance misuse, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It does not offer a needle exchange.

The public health director for Newcastle and Gateshead, Alice Wiseman, said the decision to open the rehabilitation centre in the library was "really brave and the right decision to make".

"They enable the community to thrive and to tackle the issue of stigma at the same time," she said.

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