The UK's inaugural safe drug consumption room, named Thistle, will commence operations in Glasgow this month, offering individuals a supervised environment to use illegal substances.
The UK’s first safe drug consumption room will open in Glasgow this month. Known as Thistle, the Hunter Street facility will be open all year round, from 9am to 9pm, from January 15. Inside, people will be able to consume illegal drugs – like heroin and cocaine – under the supervision of clinicians. Councillor Allan Casey, convener for addiction services at Glasgow City Council, said: ‘We have been pushing for a safer drug consumption facility for some time.
‘It’s a welcome relief to know we can finally have people in to access the service and support available within the Thistle. ‘We know from all the other safer drug consumption rooms in operation across the world that they do make a difference.’ The hope is this will reduce overdoses other health complications, along with public drug taking and drug-related litter, in a part of the UK with a higher rate of drug-related than other European countries. Health professionals are on hand to help reduce the harm of taking drugs, and intervene if anything goes wrong. Scotland saw a 12% increase in drug misuse deaths in 2023, bringing that year’s total to 1,172. That was the second lowest number since 2017. Thistle has been nearly a decade in the making. Such a space was proposed in 2016 after a spike in HIV infections in Glasgow, where most then 10% of people injecting drugs have HIV. A previous outbreak in Edinburgh, when the virus first appeared in the 1980s, led to the introduction of needle exchanges that reduced transmission by taking contaminated needles out of use. Now experts and policymakers are looking to another harm reduction method – supervised drug taking
DRUG CONSUMPTION OVERDOSE HIV GLASGOW HARM REDUCTION
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Glasgow teen tells Tech Secretary Peter Kyle 'help us stay safe online'Liidia, 14, is part of NSPCC's Voice of Online Youth, a group promoting safety for young people online. Tjhey met with the tech secretary to discuss their concerns about online safety.
Read more »
First picture of man who died in Glasgow horror crash as cops continue probe“Our thoughts are with Nigel’s family and we are providing support to them as our enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances of this crash.'
Read more »
Top Glasgow cocktail bar Absent Ear unveils new menu - its first in two yearsThe Merchant City speakeasy is rightly considered to be one of the best cocktail bars in the UK, and its exciting new menu 'blends cutting-edge mixology with immersive Scottish art'.
Read more »
Santana confirms Glasgow Hydro show in first UK tour in seven yearsGuitar sensation Carlos Santana and his band have confirmed three dates for the UK with a show announced for Glasgow's OVO Hydro on Wednesday, June 18 next year.
Read more »
Scotland's first beauty vending machine launches at Glasgow bar for Christmas partygoersThe recently opened Slug & Lettuce in the city centre will offer a series of last minute beauty essentials which have been chosen following interviews with guests.
Read more »
TikTok star Kalani Ghost Hunter visits Glasgow Winterfest and tries his very firstKalani Smith, otherwise known as Kalani Ghost Hunter, is no stranger to experiencing Glasgow's food and drinks scene and has now given his verdict on the £8 crumble at Winterfest.
Read more »