Opening date for Glasgow's first drug consumption room

After the national statistics revealed a 12% rise in drug deaths in Scotland, First Minister John Swinney said the Government will “consider attentively” action to address the issue.

A total of 1172 lives were claimed by drugs in 2023. 

(Image: Newsquest)

Scotland’s rate of recorded drug deaths remains higher than other parts of the UK and European nations, and the stats also found that Glasgow has the highest in Scotland.

Figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) revealed that last year 246 people died from drug misuse in the city.

This included 84 heroin, 118 methadone, 98 cocaine, 22 alcohol and five ecstasy cases.

READ MORE: Glasgow has highest drug deaths in Scotland according to report

A space within the Hunter Street Health and Social Care Centre in the city's East End will be the location for the UK's first facility allowing the safe consumption of illegal drugs.

Glasgow City Council expects to open the room on October 21, 2024.

It was given the legal green light by the Lord Advocate, who said it would not be in the “public interest” to prosecute users of such a facility.

The centre already provides a heroin-assisted treatment service.

Service manager Lynn Macdonald and cllr Allan Casey at the consumption room site (Image: Newsquest)

On Wednesday, Mr Swinney said his Government is working to “strengthen our response to the drug deaths crisis”.

He said: “The level of drug deaths is wholly unacceptable and I’m very sorry for the heartache it has caused to families who lose loved ones.”

Mr Swinney highlighted investment in rehabilitation services and the rollout of naloxone kits.

READ MORE: Plans for drug consumption room in Glasgow revealed with annual costs

He added: “There’s a huge amount of work going on to do that, but we do have a deep problem in Scotland with drugs deaths and I would reassure members of the public that tackling that issue is fundamentally at the heart of the Government’s agenda and we will sustain the measures that we’re taking forward to deliver better outcomes.”

As well as expanding rehab capacity, he said the safe consumption facility would be available in the “near future”.

(Image: Newsquest)

The First Minister continued: “These are all measures that are designed to tackle the issue, but we must be constantly attentive to whether there’s more we can do to tackle what is an unacceptable scourge on our society.”

Discussing the safe consumption facility, councillor Allan Casey said: “The rise in drug-related deaths last year makes clear we are in a public health emergency and one that requires radical action.

“Glasgow has well-established alcohol and drug recovery services that work effectively with the city’s high number of problem drug users, however people with problematic alcohol and drug use experience significant challenges which puts their health and well-being at considerable risk.

“The opening of the safer drug consumption facility will help reduce fatal and non-fatal overdoses by providing users with a safe, clean place to inject their own drugs in the presence of trained medical staff.

“The urgent need for such a facility couldn’t be more important and we are only a matter of weeks away, with an estimated opening date of October 21.”

(Image: Newsquest)

We previously reported on plans being developed for the room, which will hold up to 20 people with space for eight injection booths and an aftercare/recovery area for another 12.

READ MORE: 'You can't put a price on saving lives': work starts on drug consumption room

The building has been designed with the needs of those who will use it at the forefront of planning.

New facilities have been added including a shower room and a clothing store as well as a smoking shelter outside.

The aftercare area will be a cafe-style space where people can interact with others, and engage with staff.

Users of the facility will be supported to move on to other services for help with their drug use. 

Manager Lynn Macdonald added: “We know there are a large number of people who do not engage with services.

“Give them a safe place to come by building trust at their own pace.

“We hope this is a route into services. We have existing services on this site. We have the complex needs team and community teams."