French Government Faces Lawsuits Over Inaction on Harm Reduction Centers

Médecins du Monde and allied groups accuse the state of obstructing proven public health initiatives as the experimental phase nears its end.

Médecins du Monde, supported by other associations, has filed two lawsuits against the French government for its inaction and alleged obstruction regarding harm reduction centers, known as 'haltes soins addictions' or 'salles de shoot.'
The lawsuits aim to secure the continuation of these experimental centers nationwide and challenge the cancellation of a planned facility in Marseille.
The centers, operational since 2016 in Paris and Strasbourg, have demonstrated significant public health benefits, including reductions in overdoses, deaths, and infections, with the experimental phase set to conclude in December 2025.
Health advocacy groups claim prior appeals to the Ministry of Health went unanswered, leading to legal action to address what they describe as a public health failure.
Inserm data from 2021 highlights the centers' effectiveness, including the prevention of 43 deaths and 69% of overdoses, underscoring their potential as a critical public health tool.