A facility where patrons can inject drugs under the supervision of a nurse is set to open in Glasgow on Monday, after nearly a decade of debate over how to address Europe's undesirable status as the capital of drug-related deaths. be.
The safe drug consumption facility, which offers hot drinks, a lounge with sofas and a booth for injecting, is the first of its kind in the UK, with similar initiatives in other cities around the world, including New York.
Users of the facility, named Thistle after Scotland's coat of arms, will be required to bring their own drugs. Staff will not administer the shots but will be on hand to monitor safety.
How does the drug use room work?
The new facility, which will operate all year round, will have a reception and waiting area, a separate space with separate booths where injections can be given, a recovery area and an aftercare area where charities and support groups can provide advice.
Users have access to clean syringes, needles, and swabs and are assigned one of eight booths.
Lyn Macdonald, Thistle's service manager, told Scottish public broadcaster STV that customers “don't have to tell us what drugs they use”. But they will be asked to do so, she added. A nurse will be stationed in the space used to supervise injections. ”
Each booth has a slightly tilted mirror that allows staff to safely observe injections being administered without getting too close to people. “It gives them some dignity,” McDonald said. “That's the key to this service: that people who come here are treated with respect and dignity.”
The Scottish Government is funding the initiative by providing £2 million a year, or about $2.4 million.
What do the organizers hope to achieve and why in Glasgow?
Researchers say there are currently more than 100 drug consumption rooms around the world, including in Europe, Canada, the United States and Australia. Advocates say such facilities reduce the risk of overdose and infection, reduce the cost of acute hospital admissions, and put users in touch with medical professionals who can provide treatment for drug addiction. claims.
In Scotland, where drug death rates are recorded to be the highest in Europe, thistle is seen as part of the answer to the long debate about how to combat the scourge of drugs. In 2023, 1,172 people died from drug abuse, an increase of 12% from the previous year.
Opioids such as heroin, morphine, and methadone are the most common drugs associated with deaths, contributing to 937 deaths.
In 2015, there was a significant outbreak of HIV in Glasgow, particularly among people who inject in public. Glasgow City Council says the virus has been linked to homelessness and people injecting in public.
The calls for safe drug consumption facilities come as around 400 to 500 people regularly inject drugs in Glasgow city center, increasing the risk of infection and the risk of disposing of discarded equipment, including needles, into the public. It has received attention since a 2016 report that estimated that it poses a broader risk to people.
The city council believes these facilities will reduce drug-related harms such as overdoses, deaths and the transmission of infectious diseases, and will lead to “overall cost savings” by reducing calls to health services and reducing time spent in care. He said that research has shown that this can be achieved. Police and courts dealing with drug-related matters.
The Glasgow initiative marks a significant, if contentious, moment for Britain's drug policy, following years of debate over how to reduce overdoses and end street consumption. Drug laws covering Scotland are set by the UK Parliament in Westminster, but enforcement is carried out by the Scottish courts, which operate their own system.
Building new facilities comes after Scotland's most senior lawyer, known as the Lord Chancellor, said it was not in the public interest to prosecute patrons for possessing illegal drugs in safe consumption facilities. became possible.
The British government said it respected the decision and would not interfere with the Glasgow project. The government said it would wait to see the outcome of the initiative, but said there were no plans to reintroduce such a system in England or Wales.
What are the critics saying?
Some local residents oppose the opening, fearing it could lead to more drug dealing in the area.
Other critics worry it could backfire. One charity, Faces & Voices of Recovery UK, said in a statement: “There is nothing kind about providing a place for destructive behavior to continue that traps people in cycles of confusion, compulsion and despair.” said.
He added that by focusing on consumption rather than recovery, “these rooms send a devastating message: 'We don't believe you will get better.'”
But Scotland's first minister, John Swinney, said in a statement on Friday: “While this facility is not a silver bullet, it is another important step forward and will complement other efforts to reduce harm and death. Welcoming the opening.
