FIRST LOOK: Inside the UK's only safe drugs consumption room
From Monday the facility will allow people to inject or take illegal drugs - including heroin and cocaine - under medical supervision
Last updated 10th Jan 2025
From injecting booths to board games - Greatest Hits Radio can reveal what the inside of the UK's first safe drugs consumption room will look like.
The Glasgow facility, known as The Thistle, will officially open its doors to the public on the 13th of January.
Anyone who attends will be able to take or inject illegal drugs, including cocaine and heroin, under the medical supervision of clinicians, with the goal of reducing fatal and non-fatal overdoses.
Reception
People arriving at The Thistle, on Hunter Street in the city's east end, will be buzzed into a reception area where they will be asked to sign in - but they do not have to give their real name unless they are also looking to seek further services.
People will then be taken into a 'Chat Room', where they will have a discussion and consultation bout what type of drugs they are looking to take.
Many of the areas are named using non-clinical language, as directed with people with lived-experience, to ensure it has a 'welcoming and friendly' atmosphere.
The 'Using Space'
People will then be directed into a large room with a nurses station, where they will be given a tray containing the tools required for a safe injection.
That includes needles, spoons, pre-injection wipes, and more.
The room features eight injecting booths along the wall, separated by screens.
Each booth has a chair, a desk, and a tilted mirror, allowing medical staff to supervise injections without standing over the service user.
Staff cannot prepare or administer the drugs, but they can give advice about best practice to avoid injuries.
The drugs will then be taken, and needles will be disposed of in a dedicated sharps bin.
Health Rooms
The main area is flanked by two private health rooms, which can be used if the service user requires any medical intervention.
This could include treatment of wounds, vaccinations, sexual health and contraceptive medication, podiatry and blood borne virus care.
This is to allow people to interact with services that they may struggle to access outwith the facility.
There is a small recovery area with seating which will allow staff to observe service users before they move onto the final area of the facility.
The Lounge
This space is designed to give the service users a safe space to wait out the effects of their drugs - fitted with comfortable seating, televisions, puzzles and books.
There is also a small kitchen area where a hot drink or some food could be prepared.
The aim to create a welcoming space where clinicians believe the bulk of their work will be done, as here, they can engage in conversation about wider services within health and social care.
People can access advice about housing, homelessness, and further recovery pathways such as rehabilitation.
In a separate building, there is an opportunity to use a shower and laundry service if required.
The facility will operate 365 days a year from 9am until 9pm, and it has the capacity to hold up to 30 people at any one time.
As well as reducing overdose deaths, it aims to reduce levels of public injecting and discarded syringes.
The Scottish Government will make £2.3 million a year available for the pilot.
Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership will run the facility, and have said that no money is being diverted from other services - such as rehabilitation and recovery - to fund it.
Similar proposals are now being considered in Dundee and Aberdeen.
Rayo Premium