UK Government will not amend legislation to allow more drug consumption rooms
The Scottish affairs committee at Westminster had recommended more drug consumption rooms be allowed to open.
The UK Government has said it will not change the law to allow more drug consumption rooms to open in Scotland.
UK ministers have been criticised by members of Westminster’s Scottish affairs committee, who said the government should be taking any measure that might reduce drug deaths.
Scotland remains the drug deaths capital of Europe, a title it has held for seven years in a row.
In 2024, there were 1,017 drug-related deaths. This is down 13 per cent on the previous year, but brings the total deaths for the decade to 10,884.
The Thistle, the UK’s first drug consumption room, opened in Glasgow at the beginning of this year. Drug users are able to take illicit substances at this centre under supervision, meaning they can immediately get treatment such as Naloxone if they have an overdose.
There have since been calls to open further drug consumption rooms in Scotland in places like Dundee and Edinburgh. Two sites in the capital - the Cowgate and Spittal Street - had already been earmarked as potential locations.
However, the UK Government has now said it will not be making moves to allow this to happen.
The Scottish affairs committee had told the UK Government back in September that it should change the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which is reserved to Westminster, to allow this if The Thistle proved to be effective at the end of its three-year pilot.
Scottish Labour MP Patricia Ferguson, chair of the committee, said: “We’re disappointed that the UK Government continues to dismiss the possibility of amending drugs legislation to put The Thistle in a sustainable legal position, regardless of whether it’s a success.
“Throughout our inquiry, the committee was told that the facility’s current legal footing is precarious and not a substitute for proper regulation. Given the scale of Scotland’s crisis, the UK Government shouldn’t take any option that could help reduce deaths off the table.
“The UK Government needs to follow the evidence, and I urge them again to not make any final decisions on The Thistle until its effectiveness is properly assessed by the independent evaluation.”
However last month the UK Home Office issued The Thistle with a drug checking licence, allowing the site to legally test drugs for dangerous contaminants.
Ms Ferguson added: “We welcome the news that the government has moved ahead with issuing a drug checking licence in Glasgow, as our report recommended.
“Glasgow is at the epicentre of Scotland’s record-high drug-death rate.
“The licence, the first in Scotland, will grant support services a better understanding of new drug trends, and ultimately help reduce drug-related harms and deaths across the city.”
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “While we welcome the UK Government’s commitment to taking an evidence-based approach to drugs policy, it’s disappointing that changes to the reserved law, which limits the effectiveness of our public health approach, have been ruled out.
“It criminalises people, is a barrier to treatment, and means we are unable to pursue meaningful reform in some areas.
“The Thistle service has already saved lives. A comprehensive independent evaluation will examine its impact, but it remains restricted in what it can do. The current law also means any other city considering such a facility must undertake substantial work and engagement.
“We believe the UK Government should implement legislative changes to support the introduction of Supervised Drug Consumption Facilities.”
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