The UK’s first safer drug consumption room should not be seen as a “silver bullet” to tackle Scotland’s drug deaths crisis, a Westminster committee has said.
MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee have said funding for The Thistle in Glasgow should not come at the expense of other efforts to reduce drug harm, with a suggestion that mobile facilities could be used to best meet the needs of a community.
In a report published on Tuesday, the committee cited a visit to Lisbon to see a mobile unit in operation.
Key advantages include being more cost-effective to set up and allowing greater flexibility in service delivery.
The introduction of an inhalation room has also been suggested to meet the needs of those who inhale drugs rather than inject them.
The UK’s first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) opened in Glasgow in January and allows users to consume drugs under supervision in a clean and hygienic environment.
The Thistle is based at Hunter Street Health Centre. Pic: PA
Pic: PA
Data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) recently showed there were a total of 1,017 deaths due to drug misuse in 2024 – a decrease of 155 (13%) on the previous year.
Despite the drop, Scotland remains the drugs death capital of Europe.
While the Glasgow City Council area recorded the highest rate of deaths, the number did decrease from 246 in 2023 to 185 in 2024 (-61).
It is hoped that The Thistle’s work will be reflected in the 2025 stats when they are published next year.
A total of 418 people (333 men and 85 women) have made 6,147 visits to the facility up to 25 August. According to the latest figures, there have been 4,068 injecting episodes and 56 medical emergencies.
Injection kits are provided to users at The Thistle. Pic: PA
An injection bay. Pic: PA
The committee’s report notes that while The Thistle is “likely” to reduce drug-related deaths on a local level, it is not anticipated to have an impact on the city-wide or national rates.
Although “expensive”, the report said it could prove “good value by saving money elsewhere in the health service”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Living next door to a drug consumption room
Read more:
Living beside the UK’s first drug consumption room
Digger mobilised to clean up drugs den near The Thistle
The committee said the UK government should not make up its mind on the facility’s future before an expert evaluation takes place on the three-year pilot scheme.
If found to be effective, the report argues that UK legislation should create a new legal framework to properly operate and regulate the site and any potential future SCDFs.
Drug laws are set at Westminster but are enforced by the Scottish courts.
The Thistle was only able to go ahead after Scotland’s lord advocate said there would be no public interest in prosecuting people injecting illegal drugs under medical supervision at the facility.
The waiting room and reception area at The Thistle. Pic: PA
The lounge area. Pic: PA
The committee was told the UK government does not support the use of SDCFs and would not make legislative changes to facilitate them, irrespective of The Thistle’s success or not.
MP Patricia Ferguson, chairwoman of the committee, said: “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 could be one way of helping Scotland do this. If the facility, after its three-year pilot, is shown to be effective at tackling drug-related harm, we’re urging the UK government to follow the evidence, and take the legislative action needed to create a proper legal framework that will ensure it can run and be regulated properly.
“However, we also recognise that The Thistle is not a silver bullet.
“Our report emphasises that this pilot shouldn’t come at the cost of other recovery services – rather, they should operate in tandem to offer as much help as possible to people with problem drug use.”
