THE first official safe drugs consumption room in the UK has been given the go-ahead after authorities in Glasgow approved the decision.
Earlier this month the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC said that it would "not be in the public interest" to bring proceedings against people using illegal drugs within such facilities.
As such, plans for a pilot safe drugs consumption room in Glasgow have progressed and been given the greenlight by local authorities.
Glasgow's Integration Joint Board - which includes both NHS and council officials - ratified the plans at a meeting on Wednesday morning.
Their report stated: “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.”
SNP councillor Norman Macleod told the meeting he wants to see heroin provided to addicts, saying: “We’re still in a position where individuals who are addicted are obtaining their drugs from criminals and that, in my view, is profoundly to be regretted.
“I would look forward as soon as possible to initiatives such as those used in Switzerland where heroin-addicted individuals not only had safe consumption areas but the heroin was provided. That took the criminals right out of it.”
Fellow SNP councillor Allan Casey told the meeting: “This has to be done right. This is the first consumption room in the UK and all eyes are going to be on Glasgow and we need to make sure we get it right for those using it and make sure we’re saving lives.”
The room will be based in Glasgow's Hunter Street in the East End of the city and is due to cost £2.3 million.
It is scheduled to be open from 9am to 9pm 365 days a year at the Hunter Street health centre, which already provides a heroin assisted treatment service.
Staff will medically supervise drug users, primarily those injecting themselves with needles.
Sterile equipment, counselling, emergency care and access to healthcare and treatment services are all part of the "harm reduction" service, which prioritises the health of drug user rather than their criminality.
A safe drugs consumption facility was first floated as an idea in Glasgow during an outbreak of HIV among drug users in 2016.
The UK Government continues to state that it does not support such facilities but confirmed it would not act to stop their rollout in Scotland following the Lord Advocate's ruling.
