Political support for the controversial idea is gathering pace amid concern that the government's tough-on-crime approach has taken the focus off harm minimisation.

An inquiry by Coroner Jacqui Hawkins into the death of a 33-year-old woman in north Richmond is expected to recommend a safe drug-consumption room.

The government will also consider new laws introduced to state parliament by Sex Party MP Fiona Patten to establish a drug room so users could be supervised by medical professionals and given access to social work and mental health services.

On Monday, Mental Health Minister Martin Foley left the door ajar to a pilot safe consumption room, saying no one wants to see a family member or friend suffer the "horrors of addiction".

"That's why we support harm minimisation steps that look at this as a health issue, first and foremost," he said. "We will continue to work with Victoria Police and other agencies on the best approach to ensure we can save more lives."

The looming coronial report and Ms Patten's bill are seen as likely to provide the political impetus to revisit the issue in coming weeks.

Yarra City Council has also voiced its support for a consumption room in Melbourne's inner north. Late last year Yarra mayor Amanda Stone told The Age that drug use on Victoria Street in Richmond had reached "crisis point".

The Coroner's report is believed to have been completed and is expected to be released within weeks. The Australian Medical Association's (AMA) Victorian branch supports a trial of "supervised injecting facilities" to reduce fatal overdoses and blood-borne viral transmission.

Supporters of the proposed facility say an injecting room has been successful in Sydney.

It remains Australia's only injecting room and has been operating for more than 15 years.

Ambulance Employee Association state secretary Steve McGhie also supported an injecting room trial. "It can save lives," he said. "We think it's worth a trial. The Sydney experience proves that it works. We've still got people injecting in the streets."

A parliamentary inquiry into drugs, treatment programs and laws is due to release its report next year.