Residents who live near Melbourne‘s controversial safe-injecting room have posted evidence of rampant drug-use and junkies running amok in the streets near the state government facility.

Drug overdoses, thefts, public debauchery, graffiti, trash and other unsightly behaviour has stirred up tensions near the safe injecting room in the inner eastern suburb of North Richmond.

The anti-social behaviour centres around Lennox, Highett and Victoria Streets but junkie woes extend as far east as Victoria Gardens shopping centre and surrounding streets, playgrounds and parks. 

Angry locals have aired their frustrations on Facebook as they plead for the state government to move the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) away from residential areas.

Images posted online include a photo of a person apparently defecating in public while squatting near drug paraphernalia.

Another image shows emergency services attending to an apparent drug overdose on Victoria Street.

There are also various images of ambulances attending the Lennox Street facility directly. 

A photo of a purportedly zombified drug user laying down on grass, with his torso bared and hand down his pants was also posted.

A photo of a purportedly zombified drug user laying down on grass, shirtless with his hand down his pants

A photo of a purportedly zombified drug user laying down on grass, shirtless with his hand down his pants

Images posted to the 'Move the Injecting Room' Facebook group include a photo of a person who seems to be defecating in public

Images posted to the ‘Move the Injecting Room’ Facebook group include a photo of a person who seems to be defecating in public

The image, which was posted last month, is accompanied by the caption: ‘Heavily drug affected male, hands down his pants, just feral, children around but that’s ok to some’.

There are numerous images of used needles left on the streets and in other public areas close to where to families with young children live.

The controversial injecting room has caused grief for law-abiding citizens ever since the State Government opened it in 2018.

The North Richmond Health Community Health (NRCH) managed centre is located right next to West Richmond Primary School and within earshot of public housing.

The centre has prevented overdose deaths, outside the junkie invasion has turned the local area into Melbourne’s version of skid row.  

‘You would think that for NRCH, one of the big priorities would be to keep the immediate area clean and tidy, considering how divisive the current location of the MSIR facility is,’ a social media users wrote.

‘You would also think that the same agency would encourage users to inject inside the room, and not congregate and inject around the entry to important facilities used by young families.

‘The fact is, congregation and anti-social behaviour around the NRCH entry since the opening of the MISR has always been and continues to be a major issue. 

Angry locals have aired their frustrations on social media as they plead for the state government to shut down the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (pictured)

Angry locals have aired their frustrations on social media as they plead for the state government to shut down the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (pictured)

Emergency services attending to an apparent drug overdose on main North Richmond thoroughfare Victoria Street

Emergency services attending to an apparent drug overdose on main North Richmond thoroughfare Victoria Street

‘Injecting on the front door of the [inecting room], and across the wider North Richmond precinct continues unabated, and it’s seems the only time the area is cleaned is on the day of a rally.’

The social media users said he took photos of recent examples of the rot outside the facility but was warned off by security. 

‘When taking these photos, I was approached by two security guards who told me to stop taking photos and that it wasn’t allowed,’ the user posted. 

‘I feel like they are there to push away fed up residents moving through the area, not to provide a safe environment for residents.’

Another group member also posted their grievances.

‘As a community we are asked to respect the users around the MSIR,’ they said.

‘So how about the users show some respect to the community and stay in their own lane.

Used needles left in public are commonplace in North Richmond

Used needles left in public are commonplace in North Richmond

Garbage and filth near the injecting room

Garbage and filth near the injecting room

‘These now graffiti covered seats on the public walkway intended to separate the path, which is now metres away, next to the MSIR are part of the recently completed $1.7 million upgrade.

‘Someone was asleep on one the other day, the usual suspects – along with the always barking terrier – making themselves comfortable on the grassy knoll.

‘The usual rubbish was under the overhang just outside the NRCH. Improved amenities? Yeah nah will never happen. But did we ever think it would.’

According to the NRCH website, there has been 11,043 overdoses among 602,392 visits since the injecting room opened in 2018 but no one has died inside the facility.

However, a recent report from the Coroners Court of Victoria shows that the state recorded its highest number of fatal overdoses in a decade in 2024.

According to the Victorian Overdose Deaths 2015–2024 report 584 Victorians died from overdose last year up from 547 in 2023 and 552 in 2022.

A significant finding in the 2024 data was the continuing rise of illegal drug involvement in Victorian overdose deaths. 

A decade ago illegal drugs contributed to just under half of Victorian overdose deaths but that skyrocketed to 65.6 percent in 2024. 

The coroner noted the illegal drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and GHB reached a 10-year high in the number of overdose deaths to which they contributed.