Glasgow's drug consumption room has low treatment referrals

A new drug consumption room in Glasgow has led to very few referrals for addiction treatment. The facility, called The Thistle, was opened by the Scottish National Party (SNP) in January to help drug users connect with recovery services. Since its opening, only 27 referrals have been made from the 1,435 visits recorded by 168 users by mid-March. This means just 1.8% of users have sought further help. Critics, including addiction recovery advocates and the Conservative Party, argue this shows the facility acts more as a "harm maintenance service" rather than a way to help people recover from addiction. Scotland has a serious drug problem, with the highest drug death rate in Europe. In 2023, drug-related fatalities increased by 12% to 1,172. The SNP had promised to address this issue as a national priority. The Thistle facility allows up to 30 users to inject heroin under medical supervision and operates year-round with various support areas. Scottish officials are considering adding more options to the facility, like inhalation rooms for smoking drugs. This is to attract a wider range of users. Before opening, it was announced that drug users would not face prosecution for possession inside the centre. Supporters of the facility believe it can help reduce drug-related deaths by offering a safe environment where users can receive guidance on recovery. However, the low referral rate has raised concerns. Addiction expert Annemarie Ward mentioned that the new data shows the facility is not effectively guiding users towards recovery. Scottish Tory spokesman Annie Wells stated that the initial results are troubling and that many people may remain trapped in addiction as a result. The Scottish government is investing up to £2.3 million yearly to support the facility, with officials maintaining that the Thistle has already saved lives and helped those who previously did not access support services. They expect more users will seek treatment as the facility becomes better established.