Advertisement
Become a member of the Big Issue community
JOIN
News

Fresh fight for UK’s first drug consumption room

After a top Scottish judge warned of legal hurdles, the Glasgow health board has vowed to continue the fight for the country’s ‘fix rooms’

The Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) will continue to fight for the UK’s first Safer Drugs Consumption Facility despite legal barriers.

The space would allow people to inject drugs, such as heroin, under medical supervision.

The board’s proposal was approved by Glasgow’s Integrated Joint Board last year, but was blocked when the Lord Advocate, Scotland’s senior law officer, stated that no exemption from the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 could be made.

Their proposals also include a Heroin-Assisted Treatment (HAT) service, where medical-grade heroin would be prescribed to a small number of people as well as operating a needle exchange and could be opened under current laws. Amid debate about consumption facilities, the board is pressing ahead with plans to deliver the facility in the city centre.

It is important to stress that HAT will only partially address the issues

Current estimates suggest there are around 500 people who inject drugs in public places in Glasgow city centre. The majority are individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, recent imprisonment and poverty.

Susanne Millar, Glasgow City HSCP Chief Officer for Strategy, Planning and Commissioning, said: “This public injecting group has high rates of hospital admissions, incarceration and homelessness.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“Conventional treatment and services have not been as effective as we would want in reducing health risks and the resulting costs.

“Our ultimate goal is for drug users to recover from their addiction and remain drug free.

“However, some of our service users have had a number of failed attempts at quitting Heroin. Evidence from other countries has shown HAT to be effective and it is important to keep people as safe as possible while using this service.

“It is important to stress that HAT will only partially address the issues identified in the Health Needs Assessment as it is designed for a very small subset of the target population.

“Ongoing dialogue with the Scottish Government has agreed that a SDCF would enable much more harm reduction and engagement work with the at-risk group.”

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, whose constituency the facility would be set up in, has backed the plan and said it would save lives.

She stated: “I can attest to the fact that Glasgow has a growing problem with respect to public injecting; my constituency office often receives reports of needles and other drug paraphernalia being discarded in public places.”.

Drug deaths in Glasgow remain high with 157 occurring in the city in 2015. Heroin was the cause or contributing factor in 73 of these deaths.

A plan to pilot consumption rooms in Brighton was scrapped in 2014.

Our 2020 Impact Report

The Big Issue has given more than £1 million support to Big Issue vendors struggling due to the lockdown restrictions. To mark the significant milestone, we have published an impact report, documenting the seismic shift the organisation has undergone in the past 12 months.

View Report
Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

View all
Hundreds of thousands of pensioners miss out DWP pension credit worth £1,900: 'Disappointing'
pensioners
Pensioners

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners miss out DWP pension credit worth £1,900: 'Disappointing'

Lodger rights: Everything you need to know
lodger rights
renting

Lodger rights: Everything you need to know

Getting a lodger: How to get started
housing

Getting a lodger: How to get started

What is a sitting tenant?
renting

What is a sitting tenant?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know