Scotland's first drug checking service has opened in Glasgow to tackle a toxic and unpredictable drug supply, with the lead pharmacist warning that the strength of street drugs can vary wildly and contain far stronger, more deadly synthetic ingredients.
Launch of the service at The Thistle
The service is based at The Thistle safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow's East End. It was launched by Drugs Minister Maree Todd, who was joined by Mary Clare Madden, Lead Pharmacist for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services.
Speaking at the launch, Madden said: "In Scotland, we continue to face a public health crisis with regards to the number of individuals that are continuing to die from a drug-related death, and the emerging risks and threats that we see from a toxic and unpredictable drug supply."
She added: "The drugs someone might have one day could be identical to something they take a day later but the content could be very different. So, having a service such as drug checking, where we can actually inform an individual about the drugs they're taking and what is within those drugs - whether that be something that's been mis-sold or mixed with - gives us an opportunity to engage earlier."
Risks from synthetic opioids and user feedback
Greater priority has been placed on drug checking in recent years as criminal gangs mix drugs like heroin with synthetic opioids to boost their profits. Scotland has lagged behind many nations in establishing such facilities despite having the worst drug death record in Europe.
Madden said people who engage with drug checking are already showing they want to improve their situation. She said: "I've spoken to a lot of people with lived experience and the resounding response about why you would use a drug checking service is very poignant in the sense that they say 'I don't want to die'. So there is real concern and fear out there in relation to the potencies of the man-made, lab-based drugs that we are seeing, which are having severe effects in people."
Testing of pills, powders and liquid drugs is expected to take as little as 20 minutes, with users expected to have the information within an hour. During their time at The Thistle, users will also be given Naloxone, which reverses opiate overdoses, and can be connected with services that could lead to rehab.
Expansion plans and official reaction
It is expected that testing services will also soon be in place in places like Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Drug testing already exists in some communities in England and Wales.
Cllr Allan Casey, convenor of drugs services for Glasgow City Council, said that despite concerns in the local community, The Thistle has broken down barriers to get help for those that are hardest to reach. He said: "The drug checking service can be a real part of that process in terms of building that trust. We're trying to build a centre of excellence for harm reduction and we desperately want to provide into routes into treatment and recovery."
He added: "People think they're taking the same drugs day on day, but they're not. They're taking different batches and different drugs. The next batch could be three times the strength. So advising of this could lead to a lower dosage and lessen the chance of overdose."
Scotland's drugs and alcohol minister Maree Todd said new drug testing facilities would save lives. Todd said: "I think this is a real step forward. If I'm really candid, I think we can feel very overwhelmed. We're up against such a contaminated market, so toxic and dangerous for individuals. This is a step that we can take that helps to make them safer and will help to save lives."
In January this year, The Thistle claimed to have registered 575 users in its first year. At that point it had been accessed 11,348 times and used for 7,827 injections of illegal drugs. Staff on site also managed 93 medical emergencies.
