Glasgow’s Groundbreaking Drug Consumption Room Set to Open Amid Push to Tackle Drug Death Crisis

After over a decade of lobbying, setbacks, and red tape, Glasgow is set to open the UK’s first drug consumption room. The facility, located on Hunter Street, is expected to open in the coming weeks, marking a landmark step in the fight against Scotland’s record-high drug-related deaths.

This "Safer Drugs Consumption Facility" will provide a controlled, supervised space for up to eight users at a time to safely ingest substances like heroin and cocaine. It will operate from 9 am to 9 pm, 365 days a year, and will be staffed by trained clinicians and support workers.

The move comes as Scotland continues to face the worst drug-related death rate in Europe, with 1,172 drug deaths in 2023, up 12% from the previous year. With this facility, Glasgow aims to change the narrative by prioritising health and harm reduction over criminalisation.

Scotland has been at the centre of the UK’s drug crisis for years, with its drug-related death rate far higher than anywhere else in Europe. Many of these deaths are linked to people injecting drugs in unsafe, unsupervised environments, where the risk of infection, overdose, and death is much higher.

The Hunter Street facility offers an alternative:

• Supervised injection reduces the risk of overdose. Trained medical professionals are on-site to provide life-saving intervention in the event of an overdose.

• Access to health services allows users to engage with support workers, medical staff, and treatment programmes.

• Reduction in public injecting means fewer needles in parks, stairwells, and alleyways, improving public safety.

• Data collection and support help authorities better understand drug use patterns and offer tailored support to users.

Similar consumption rooms in Europe, Canada, and Australia have shown that these facilities reduce overdose deaths, prevent infections, and increase access to treatment and rehabilitation services. If Glasgow's project succeeds, it could set a precedent for the rest of the UK.

The facility was originally set to open on 21 October 2024, but delays arose due to a setback in the water testing process. Water supply testing is a standard safety procedure required before healthcare buildings can be operational. The tests require three consecutive clear results, and if a single test fails, the process starts from scratch.

Speaking about the delay, Councillor Alan Casey, Glasgow’s addiction services convener, acknowledged that the process had been frustrating but necessary.

“We can't cut any corners. We need to make sure it is done properly because so much scrutiny is on this building. It is the first in the UK, we must get it right for everybody to get it open.”

While the building is ready and staff are fully trained, the water testing process remains the final hurdle. As of the latest update, recent tests had produced a "satisfactory" result, with one more round of testing expected in the coming week. Once this process is complete, the facility will be ready to open, with a target date set for the end of 2024 or early 2025.

Delays in such an important facility are frustrating for those who have fought for its existence for over a decade. However, given the level of scrutiny this first-of-its-kind UK facility faces, the council has prioritised caution over speed.

Drug-related deaths in Scotland have reached crisis levels. The 1,172 deaths recorded in 2023 are a stark reminder of the urgent need for intervention. Many of these deaths could have been prevented if medical help had been available in real-time.

The “war on drugs” approach of punishment and prosecution has failed to reduce the crisis. By allowing people to use substances in a safe, managed environment, Glasgow is embracing a model that prioritises harm reduction over criminalisation.

Similar models have been used in countries like:

• Portugal: Decriminalisation of drug use has led to a dramatic fall in drug-related deaths and a significant reduction in public injecting.

• Canada: Supervised consumption sites have proven to reduce overdose deaths, prevent infections, and reduce strain on emergency healthcare services.

• Spain: Drug consumption rooms have operated successfully in Barcelona, offering healthcare, counselling, and overdose intervention.

This facility in Glasgow will be the first of its kind in the UK, and if successful, it could lead to the rollout of similar facilities across the UK. The goal is to reduce the stigma around drug use, provide safe spaces, and encourage users to engage with treatment and recovery services.

While local authorities and the Scottish Government have backed the facility, there has been pushback from the UK Government and the Home Office, which initially opposed the facility.

Current UK drug laws classify possession of drugs like heroin and cocaine as a criminal offence, making it legally difficult to open spaces where drug use is permitted. However, Scotland’s Lord Advocate, the country's top legal official, has provided assurances that drug users will not face prosecution if they use the Hunter Street facility.

This decision has been hailed as a landmark shift in UK drug policy. If the facility proves effective in reducing deaths and public drug use, it could pave the way for similar changes elsewhere.

Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting consumption rooms, the initiative has not been without criticism. Opponents argue that:

• It may normalise drug use, sending the message that taking heroin or cocaine is acceptable.

• Resources may be better spent on rehabilitation and getting people off drugs entirely, rather than providing a place to take them.

• Public backlash may arise from local communities worried about the facility’s impact on public safety.

These concerns are not unique to Glasgow. Similar debates were had in Canada, Portugal, and Spain before consumption rooms opened. However, evidence from these countries suggests that public health benefits outweigh the risks.

The Hunter Street facility is now just “weeks away” from opening, according to Councillor Alan Casey. Staff are ready, the building is ready, and only the water testing process remains. Once open, it will be the first official drug consumption room in the UK, setting a precedent for how other UK cities could tackle their own drug crises.

In the short term, the facility will provide a lifeline for drug users at risk of overdose. In the long term, it could drive policy changes that move the UK from a punitive approach to one based on public health and harm reduction.

Councillor Casey captured the significance of this moment:

"The staff are all recruited and ready to go, the building is ready to all intents and purposes, we just want to get it open now and provide that service."

As Glasgow leads the way with this bold, compassionate move, all eyes will be on how it works in practice. If successful, this model could be replicated across the UK, saving lives and changing the way society treats drug addiction.

In the battle against drug-related deaths, it’s clear that radical change is needed. For Glasgow, that change is just a few weeks away.