The UK’s first drug consumption room, The Thistle, is experiencing alarming medical emergencies. In one instance, a man in his 30s overdosed in the facility’s “using space,” where nurses oversee injections in eight booths. Previously apprehensive due to a police search in Gallowgate, the man arrived at The Thistle only to experience a life-threatening overdose shortly after. Staff immediately jumped into action, moving him to safety on a crash mat.
Amidst our exclusive filming at The Thistle, another medical emergency unfolded as a second man in his 30s required urgent attention. This man, guided by charity workers to the facility, proceeded to inject heroin in the booths. Service manager Lynn Macdonald revealed concerns of a rising number of medical emergencies after an initially calm period. She speculated that a problematic batch of drugs might be the cause, as users reported a green tinge in their heroin mixtures.
David Clark, a 47-year-old former drug user, shared his positive experience with The Thistle, where staff not only supervised his cocaine injection but also facilitated his transition to supported accommodation. Similarly, James, a mid-20s drug user, praised the facility for its safety and support, contrasting it with his previous risky injection spots in car parks and forests. However, the consumption room faced backlash from the Calton community, with residents like Linda Watson expressing frustration over increased drug activity in the area and a lack of investment in community welfare.
Dr. Saket Priyardarshi, associate medical director of drug services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, emphasized The Thistle’s broader impact on social environments while acknowledging its limited reach in the grand scheme of Scotland’s drug-related issues. The consumption room’s inception in response to Glasgow’s HIV outbreak among injecting drug users highlights the ongoing battle between harm reduction initiatives and the need for comprehensive recovery services. With a three-year pilot period financed by the Scottish government, The Thistle aims to address Scotland’s soaring drug death rates with a final evaluation slated for 2028
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