Managers of Scotland's pioneering drug consumption room are preparing to lobby the country's top law officer in a bid to introduce a dedicated crack cocaine smoking area. The Thistle, a £2.3 million facility in Glasgow's East End, currently provides supervised injection spaces but now wants to expand its harm reduction services.
The Push for Inhalation Services
Officials running the three-year pilot project, which opened in January and is jointly operated by Glasgow City Council and the NHS with Scottish Government funding, say an 'inhalation room' is critical to realising the facility's full potential. Recent data shows cocaine accounts for 67% of substances injected at the centre, with anecdotal evidence suggesting a significant shift toward smoking drugs, particularly cocaine.
Glasgow's integration joint board, which oversees health and social care services, has approved developing a business case for the smoking space. A report presented to the board highlighted that recent overdose clusters in the city have been linked to smoking crack cocaine contaminated with other substances. Alarmingly, cocaine was implicated in 52% of drug-related deaths in Glasgow last year.
Legal Hurdles and Political Opposition
The proposed expansion faces significant legal and political challenges. It's currently illegal for The Thistle to operate a smoking room, requiring potential amendments to regulations and prosecution policy. Facility bosses plan talks with the Scottish Government about defining The Thistle as an 'exempt service' and will need to liaise with the Crown Office and Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain.
The move has sparked strong political reactions. Scottish Tory drugs minister Annie Wells stated: 'Thistle bosses clearly feel emboldened by SNP ministers' continued support for their flagship drug consumption room to be making this call. John Swinney should intervene and tell Thistle bosses that his SNP government won't be given the green light to these plans.'
The UK Government has explicitly stated it 'does not support drug consumption rooms or expansion of facilities at The Thistle to enable users to inhale drugs'. Critics including Dr Neil McKeganey of the Centre for Substance Use Research have described the proposal as 'utter recklessness', particularly without data showing the centre is reducing Scotland's drug death toll.
Public Health Imperative vs Practical Challenges
Proponents argue the inhalation space addresses a crucial service gap. Officials report that feedback has highlighted the lack of inhalation spaces as the main barrier to using the service. The facility's managers believe adding such a space would enable staff to encourage clients to transition from injection to smoking, potentially reducing harm.
However, practical challenges remain substantial. The business case will explore legal complications, costs, staffing requirements, and optimal location. A smoking room was initially dropped from plans due to potential delays from legal issues, extra costs, and ventilation requirements.
A Crown Office spokesman confirmed 'The Lord Advocate would consider any request to extend the pilot scheme's statement of prosecution policy', leaving the door open for further discussion about this controversial harm reduction approach.
