Progress update on location of Glasgow City Centre 'fix room'

A decision on whether a controversial drug consumption room will be built in Glasgow or not will take a step forward today.

The council and NHS joint board will be updates on the plans, which would see 'safe injecting zones' set up in the city centre for drug users.

A potential site has been identified between Trongate, Saltmarket and the River Clyde and negotiations are on going.

Susanne Millar, Glasgow City HSCP Chief Officer for Strategy, Planning and Commissioning, said: “The need for a safer consumption facility is about improving the health of those involved in public injecting.

“Our aim is to provide a route to recovery for a group of people often disengaged from support services and improving the general amenity of Glasgow city centre.

“Public injecting of drugs places considerable financial costs on the health, social care and criminal justice systems.

“Existing research suggests the average monthly spend on health, addictions, housing and criminal justice service for people in Glasgow with complex needs ranges from £1,120 and £3,069 per individual per month.

“These proposals are backed by evidence indicating SDCFs not only improve health outcomes for people who inject drugs, but are also highly cost effective and contribute to savings for health and social care services.”