Scotland launches its first legal drug consumption room to combat rising overdose deaths
Glasgow: The UK’s first drug consumption room is set to open tomorrow. This facility will let people use class A drugs without the fear of being prosecuted.
Located in the eastern Calton district, it’s called The Thistle. It’s modeled after over 100 similar centers worldwide, but it’s the only one in the UK.
Thanks to a recent policy change, this center can operate legally. Scotland’s senior prosecutor decided not to intervene with Westminster’s drug possession laws.
The center will have eight booths staffed by nurses. Registered users can inject drugs there from 9 am to 9 pm, every day of the year. The Scottish government will cover the estimated £7 million cost over the next three years.
Scotland has the highest drug-related death rate in Europe, with 1,172 deaths in 2023, a 12% increase from the previous year. Glasgow was chosen for the center because around 400 to 500 people regularly inject drugs in the city center, according to NHS reports.
While the center won’t provide or test drugs, it will offer medical assistance during injections and in case of overdoses.
Users will also have access to showers, a clothing bank, medical consultation rooms, and a kitchen and lounge area.
Some locals and campaigners are worried that this facility might encourage drug use. However, many politicians from different parties support the initiative.
First Minister John Swinney believes the center will help people use drugs in a safer environment. Scottish Labour also supports efforts to reduce drug deaths in Glasgow.
On the flip side, Annemarie Ward, head of the charity Faces and Voices of Recovery UK, calls the consumption room a “misnomer of treatment.”
She argues it’s a harm reduction measure, not a real treatment, and questions whether it truly prevents deaths.
Other countries like Denmark, Portugal, and Canada have similar consumption rooms. A study from Sydney’s Medically Supervised Injecting Centre found that less than 1% of injections led to adverse incidents.
Researchers concluded that providing a safer place to inject significantly reduces short-term harms.
Allan Casey from Glasgow City Council has been advocating for a safer drug consumption facility. He believes it will improve the lives of those struggling with addiction and lessen the burden on emergency services.
While he acknowledges mixed opinions, he’s confident that the benefits will be seen quickly.
