Scottish Government must press ahead on drugs consumption rooms

Responding to today's Scottish Affairs committee evidence session which heard that it could take up to four years to gather evidence on the effectiveness of the Thistle drug consumption facility in Glasgow, committee member Angus MacDonald MP said:

“Support for facilities like this has been Liberal Democrat policy for many years, long before a consensus emerged in their favour, and I am glad that forward-thinking approach has finally become a reality.

“Huge volumes of international evidence already exists showing these centres are proven to keep people safe and support them into recovery. We must not wait until 2029 before ensuring that people in areas like Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh have access to similar facilities.

“When almost 100 Scots are dying every month from drugs- a death rate far worse than anywhere else in Europe- the priority must be saving lives.

“Liberal Democrats want to see the Scottish Government rolling out a nationwide network of safe consumption rooms."