THE Scottish Government has pledged to keep pushing the UK Government to allow it to set up a trial consumption room in Glasgow.
The news comes as it emerges that next year’s statistics are predicted to show another “significant rise” in drug deaths.
Last year, 934 drug-related deaths were registered in Scotland but it has been predicted that they are likely to rise to well over 1000 this year.
David Liddell, chief executive of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said: “Alcohol and Drug Partnerships across Scotland are briefed on local unofficial figures of suspected overdose deaths regularly.
“While a final official figure will be published by National Records of Scotland in July next year, local reports suggest that there is an increase in most areas of Scotland and, anecdotally, this has in some places been in the tens of percentage points.”.
The Scottish Government is now aiming to introduce heroin assisted treatment in Scotland. But plans for a so-called safer consumption facility – where addicts could inject heroin under supervision - have been consistently ruled out by the UK Government.
Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Public Health, told The Sunday National that he met with UK drugs minister Victoria Atkins last week to re-raise the issue.
“One of my big concerns is the number of people who have died,” he said. “It is not acceptable.
“The evidence is telling us having a safe consumption space would take away some of the risks.
“I was in London speaking to the UK Government last week, but unfortunately I couldn’t get the minister away from looking at addiction as a criminal justice issue.”
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said it had no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms.
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