UK's first drug room where users can take illegal substances legally announced

27 September 2023 , 10:16

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The £2.6million facility is backed by the Scottish government as a way to tackle the country's drugs deaths crisis (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The UKs first drug consumption room for users to take illegal substances under medical supervision has been approved by health and council officials.

The controversial £2.3million Glasgow facility will allow users to take their own substances like heroin and cocaine in a hygienic environment with medical staff on hand. First proposed in 2016 following an HIV outbreak in the city, the moved comes in an attempt to tackle the Scotland's drugs deaths crisis.

But earlier this month, Scotland's most senior law officer, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, announced it would not be "in the public interest" to prosecute people using such a facility. The number of people who died due to drug misuse in the country last year fell by 279 to the lowest level for five years.

Drugs deaths peaked at 1,339 in 2020 before falling slightly (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The pilot project planned for Hunter Street, in the same building as a current drug treatment facility, was approved by the Glasgow City Integration Joint Board meeting this morning.

The board involves NHS and council officials and recommended approval of the scheme in a report. The report states: "There is overwhelming international evidence which demonstrates that safer drug consumption facilities can improve the health, wellbeing and recovery of people who use the facility and reduce the negative impact that public injecting has on local communities and businesses."

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It highlights that following the HIV outbreak, an assessment "found there are approximately 400 to 500 people injecting drugs in public places in Glasgow city centre on a regular basis". It adds: "Injecting in public spaces increases the risk of infection and other drug related harms, and also causes a risk to the public from discarded injecting equipment and needles."

The pilot scheme will be based at a health centre in the east end of Glasgow. The Scottish Government backs the plans but some MSPs have raised concerns about the impact on the local area, including on businesses.

Sam Elliott-Gibbs