DEMANDS for the UK Government to allow a safe consumption room in Glasgow have been repeated as the city’s drug crisis was laid bare in shocking new statistics.

Figures revealed through a freedom of information request shows that in just six months, 123 deaths in the city are being treated as drug-related.

That comes on top of an already confirmed 42 deaths - making a possible 165 fatalities from drugs in our city alone.

The figures cover the first six months of 2019 - from January 1 to June 30.

Glasgow City Council have been repeatedly demanding calls for action from Westminster as they continue their efforts to fight the crisis.

The council has already launched Scotland’s first heroin assisted treatment service back in December.

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And last week Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick called on the UK Government again to confirm they would attend a drug drugs summit in Glasgow this year.

Neighbouring Lanarkshire came second on the list behind Glasgow.

They have more confirmed deaths with 49, but have only 28 deaths being investigated as drug-related, bringing their potential total to 77 - less than half of that in Glasgow.

Meanwhile the lowest is in the Highlands and Islands, with 15 confirmed drug-related deaths and an additional two being probed by police.

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Councillor Mhairi Hunter, Glasgow’s Convener for Health & Social Care, said: “The drugs death toll is an absolute tragedy and it is outrageous that Westminster is refusing to amend the law which prevents Glasgow from opening a Safer Drug Consumption Facility.

“There is firm evidence that such a facility could help save lives.

“Westminster’s refusal to act or to devolve the power to do so, to the Scottish Parliament, is claiming lives.

“Glasgow recently launched Scotland’s first heroin assisted treatment service to treat city residents with the most long-standing addiction issues. This facility is truly pioneering but, crucially, it would have most impact working in tandem with a Safer Drug Consumption Facility.

“A UK drugs death summit is currently being organised in Glasgow which will be hosted by the Scottish Government.

“It will be held in the city chambers and it’s vital that Westminster politicians accept the invitation to attend and hear evidence from those fighting to save lives amid this public health emergency.

“Their decision to block the creation of potentially life-saving services flies in the face of all the evidence and is letting the people of Glasgow down.”

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Scottish Labour Health spokesperson, Monica Lennon MSP, said: “The drug deaths crisis is out of control and my heart goes out to all of the families in Glasgow and across Scotland whose loved ones have died.

“These deaths are not inevitable. hey are preventable if the right support and policies are in place. I have attended meetings in Maryhill, Pollok and Springburn in recent months and heard first-hand the devastation that is being caused.

"Glasgow needs a supervised drug consumption room and it’s clear that both the Scottish Government and the UK Government need to stop dithering and get on with putting people first.”

The Home Office have been approached for comment.