Glasgow drug consumption room still on hold 1 year after go-ahead
A Glasgow woman is begging Glasgow City Council to push forward with plans for a safe drugs consumption room before more lives are lost to overdose.
Last updated 31st Oct 2017
A Glasgow woman is begging Glasgow City Council to push forward with plans for a safe drugs consumption room before more lives are lost to overdose.
Elizabeth McFarlane lost three brothers to heroin overdoses and says an injecting facility could have saved them:
It has been a year since Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership gave the development of proposals the green light but they have failed to find a suitable space.
Kristen Horseburgh's from the Scottish Drugs Forum, she says it is crucial now more than ever, the local authority get it up and running...
It was hoped a space had been found between Trongate, Saltmarket and the River Clyde in June but that fell through.
Glasgow City Council are also still waiting for a response from the Lord Advocate on the legal position of running a safe consumption room.
They have asked for those who use and work in the facility to be exempt from possession of controlled substances charges.
A spokesperson for Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Work remains on-going on the proposal to open a safer drug consumption facility and a heroin assisted treatment programme in Glasgow.
“Considerable progress has been made since the Health and Social Care Partnership gave the go-ahead in October last year for the development of a full business case for the project.
“A draft business case that outlined the economic, social and public health benefits of the project has since been approved by the HSCP and work to engage with a range of stakeholders has begun.
“The continuing rise in the rate of HIV infection among drug injectors and a rise in drug-related deaths indicate the need for this kind initiative in Glasgow.
“This remains a ground breaking initiative for Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“It was always the case that we would have to work our way patiently through all of the relevant issues before seeking final IJB approval for such an innovative project.”
Doctor Saket Priyadarshi is from the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership; he says the early 2018 timeframe was too ambitious...