EXCLUSIVE: UK's First Drug Consumption Room Saves Lives 14 Times in Glasgow
Thistle Facility Tackles Overdoses Amid Public Debate
EXCLUSIVE By Gary Fanning
The UK’s first supervised drug consumption facility in Glasgow has saved lives at least 14 times since it opened in January, according to Councillor Allan Casey, the City Convenor for Addiction Services.
Located on Hunter Street in the city’s east end, The Thistle offers a safe, supervised environment for individuals to inject drugs under medical supervision.
The £2.3m facility is part of a harm reduction initiative designed to reduce overdose deaths and improve public health.
Since opening on January 13, the centre has recorded over 1,000 visits from more than 150 individuals.
Councillor Casey shared at Tuesday night’s Dennistoun Community Council meeting that 14 potentially fatal overdoses have been reversed so far.
He expressed confidence that the facility is fulfilling its intended purpose.
“It is doing what it should be doing,” Councillor Casey said. “We hope that it is starting to make a difference, and there have been 14 medical interventions where we managed to reverse fatal overdoses.”
Despite its successes, the facility has faced scrutiny from some local residents, particularly regarding the safety of the drug supply.
Councillor Casey responded to concerns about drug quality by explaining that an application for drug checking services has been submitted to the Home Office.
These checks are distinct from direct drug testing but are essential to prevent contamination, which has led to recent heroin overdoses in the community.
“While we are not testing drugs in use right now, we are working to implement a safer system,” he added. “The aim is not to eliminate harm entirely but to reduce it as much as possible.”
The Thistle operates daily from 9 am to 9 pm, providing clinical supervision and access to a range of treatment and support services.
In addition to preventing overdose deaths, the facility helps reduce discarded needles in public spaces.
Some local residents and business owners, however, have voiced concerns that the clinic might attract anti-social behaviour and drug dealers.
Councillor Casey admitted that there is still a problem of drug users injecting in public in the Duke Street and Drygate areas — a short distance from the Hunter Street facility.
Last month, The Splash spoke to local residents and businesses in the area.
Jamie Lundie, a local businessman who has worked in the area for nearly 30 years, expressed frustration over the growing problem of public drug use, which he says existed long before The Thistle’s opening.
“We’ve had to install a fence because people are coming into the yard and using drugs,” Mr Lundie, pictured below, said. “This has been a problem for a long time.”
Nearby areas, including the car park at Morrisons, have become hotspots for drug use.
Discarded needles have raised safety concerns, with some areas being cordoned off for public protection.
Other syringes have been dumped below the railway bridge on Barrack Street.
However, some residents believe the facility is making a positive impact.
One shopper, reflecting on the broader changes in the community, said: “A lot of people are dying from overdoses and bad drugs. If this facility helps people and keeps them off the streets, that can only be a positive thing.”
While there is still opposition to the facility, many see it as a necessary step in tackling Glasgow’s drug crisis.
At the Scottish Affairs Committee in Westminster, it was also revealed that the NHS is considering the introduction of "inhalation rooms" alongside supervised injection spaces to further reduce harm for those using cocaine.
The debate over the best approach to drug use continues, but for now, The Thistle remains a key component in Glasgow’s efforts to address its drug-related challenges.
EXCLUSIVE: "Everyone Can Recover": Annemarie Ward on Glasgow's Drug Consumption Facility
Tomorrow, Annemarie Ward, the chief executive of FAVOR UK (Faces Of Voice and Recovery), offers her thought-provoking views on the controversial drug consumption facility, The Thistle, in Glasgow.
Her column, "Everyone Can Recover," challenges the narrative surrounding harm reduction, arguing that while some harm reduction methods have a place, the focus should shift toward real recovery. With her deeply personal experience of overcoming addiction, Annemarie contends that the current drug policies fail to prioritise recovery and real rehabilitation.
“Everyone can recover. Not everyone will recover. But we don’t know who will recover. So, give everyone every chance to recover.”
Don't miss this passionate and timely commentary, only in tomorrow's Splash.
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