Drug use continues to be a serious issue in the United Kingdom, with Scotland experiencing the highest drug-related death rates in Europe.
Despite years of efforts to address the crisis through enforcement and treatment programs, the situation remains critical.
This has led to new approaches aimed at reducing harm and saving lives.
On Monday, Scotland opened the UK’s first supervised drug consumption room, The Thistle, in Glasgow.
A welcoming and nonjudgmental space
Located in the eastern part of the city, an area heavily affected by public drug use, the center offers a safe and confidential environment for individuals to inject substances like heroin or cocaine under medical supervision.
It operates every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and provides additional services such as recovery spaces, showers, clothing, and connections to healthcare and social support.
Dr. Saket Pleadarshi, the clinical director, explained the pressing need for the facility.
“We are dealing with a high number of drug-related deaths, an HIV outbreak among injection drug users, and frequent hospitalizations caused by injection-related wounds,” he said, according to 20Minutos.
The center’s goal is not only to prevent overdose deaths but also to address health concerns and help users access broader support networks.
The facility, inspired by similar centers in countries like Switzerland and Canada, includes eight injection booths and spaces for medical consultations.
Service manager Lynn Macdonald described it as a welcoming and nonjudgmental space.
“We aim to create an environment where individuals feel supported instead of stigmatized,” she explained.
First proposed in 2016, the project faced legal obstacles under UK law.
It moved forward only after Scotland’s Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain stated in 2023 that prosecuting drug users in the facility would not be in the public interest.
The center has drawn criticism from some groups and residents who worry about increased drug activity near the site.
Annemarie Ward, of Faces and Voices of Recovery UK, argued that the funds — £7 million over three years — might be better used for rehabilitation programs.
Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray sees the center as a potential model for other regions.
With 1,172 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2023, the facility aims to provide life-saving support and offer a new approach to addressing the crisis.
