Scotland has opened a drug consumption room for the first time in the UK. The facility, The Thistle, is located in Glasgow’s east end area, which is home to a significant population of drug users who take substances in public. The space is intended to reduce drug-related harm and overdoses, as well as making drug use less visible to the community. The centre will be open between the hours of 9am-9pm, 365 days a year, and has eight booths where nursing staff will supervise injections and respond to overdoses.
The Thistle’s running costs will amount to approximately £7m over the next three years and is funded by the Scottish government. Users will have to be registered with the service prior to entry. The facility will not provide drugs, users must bring their own supply. The new law enforcement feature in the Scottish courts implementing that users will not be prosecuted for illegal drug possession at the facility has allowed the scheme to go ahead. The Lord Advocate introduced the change of policy.
Some local residents have objected to the facility, stating that it could increase the amount of drug dealing in the area and encourage people to harm themselves. However, run by the Scottish government, the UK government has said that the project will not be interfered with. The Thistle’s model is based on over 100 similar facilities in the world, including Denmark, Spain and Portugal. Service manager Lynn Macdonald has stated they are unsure of the number of daily injections expected.
Dr Saket Priyadarshi, head of alcohol and drug recovery services at NHS Greater Glasgow, and clinical lead for The Thistle, hopes the facility will address public injections and improve issues around drug-related litter in the local area. Its establishment was first proposed in 2008 by a think tank Dr Priyadarshi was part of, after which Glasgow’s Joint Integration Board approved the plans in 2016. It will be staffed 365 days a year for general supervision and in the case of overdoses
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