The UK’s first safer drug consumption room shouldn’t be seen as a “silver bullet” to deal with Scotland’s drug deaths disaster, a Westminster committee has stated.
MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee have stated funding for The Thistle in Glasgow mustn’t come on the expense of different efforts to cut back drug hurt, with a suggestion that cellular services may very well be used to greatest meet the wants of a group.
In a report printed on Tuesday, the committee cited a go to to Lisbon to see a cellular unit in operation.
Key benefits embody being cheaper to arrange and permitting higher flexibility in service supply.
The introduction of an inhalation room has additionally been instructed to fulfill the wants of those that inhale medicine relatively than inject them.
The UK’s first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) opened in Glasgow in January and permits customers to eat medicine below supervision in a clear and hygienic setting.
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The Thistle is predicated at Hunter Avenue Well being Centre. Pic: PA
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Pic: PA
Information from the Nationwide Information of Scotland (NRS) lately confirmed there have been a complete of 1,017 deaths because of drug misuse in 2024 – a lower of 155 (13%) on the earlier 12 months.
Regardless of the drop, Scotland stays the medicine demise capital of Europe.
Whereas the Glasgow Metropolis Council space recorded the best price of deaths, the quantity did lower from 246 in 2023 to 185 in 2024 (-61).
It’s hoped that The Thistle’s work shall be mirrored within the 2025 stats when they’re printed subsequent 12 months.
A complete of 418 folks (333 males and 85 girls) have made 6,147 visits to the ability as much as 25 August. In keeping with the most recent figures, there have been 4,068 injecting episodes and 56 medical emergencies.
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Injection kits are supplied to customers at The Thistle. Pic: PA
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An injection bay. Pic: PA
The committee’s report notes that whereas The Thistle is “likely” to cut back drug-related deaths on an area degree, it isn’t anticipated to have an effect on the city-wide or nationwide charges.
Though “expensive”, the report stated it may show “good value by saving money elsewhere in the health service”.
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Residing subsequent door to a drug consumption room
The committee stated the UK authorities mustn’t make up its thoughts on the ability’s future earlier than an skilled analysis takes place on the three-year pilot scheme.
If discovered to be efficient, the report argues that UK laws ought to create a brand new authorized framework to correctly function and regulate the positioning and any potential future SCDFs.
Drug legal guidelines are set at Westminster however are enforced by the Scottish courts.
The Thistle was solely capable of go forward after Scotland’s lord advocate stated there can be no public curiosity in prosecuting folks injecting unlawful medicine below medical supervision on the facility.
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The ready room and reception space at The Thistle. Pic: PA
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The lounge space. Pic: PA
The committee was advised the UK authorities doesn’t assist using SDCFs and wouldn’t make legislative adjustments to facilitate them, regardless of The Thistle’s success or not.
MP Patricia Ferguson, chairwoman of the committee, stated: “Scotland has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in Europe. Without a doubt, this is the most pressing public health issue facing the nation, and things need to change urgently to stop more people dying.
“The Thistle may very well be a technique of serving to Scotland do that. If the ability, after its three-year pilot, is proven to be efficient at tackling drug-related hurt, we’re urging the UK authorities to observe the proof, and take the legislative motion wanted to create a correct authorized framework that can guarantee it could actually run and be regulated correctly.
“However, we also recognise that The Thistle is not a silver bullet.
“Our report emphasises that this pilot should not come at the price of different restoration companies – relatively, they need to function in tandem to supply as a lot assist as doable to folks with downside drug use.”
