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| First week figures revealed for Glasgow drug consumption room | |
| (21 days later) | |
| The Thistle clinic was used 131 times in its first week | The Thistle clinic was used 131 times in its first week |
| The UK's first drug consumption clinic has been used more than 130 times since it opened last week. | The UK's first drug consumption clinic has been used more than 130 times since it opened last week. |
| The Safer Drugs Consumption Facility in Glasgow opened on 13 January, letting people take substances under supervision. | The Safer Drugs Consumption Facility in Glasgow opened on 13 January, letting people take substances under supervision. |
| Councillor Allan Casey, the city convener for addiction services, said it had been an "intense first week" for staff, with the service being used a total of 131 times. | Councillor Allan Casey, the city convener for addiction services, said it had been an "intense first week" for staff, with the service being used a total of 131 times. |
| There were no medical emergencies resulting from drug use within the facility - known as the Thistle - in the first seven days. | There were no medical emergencies resulting from drug use within the facility - known as the Thistle - in the first seven days. |
| The 131 figure includes people who used the service on more than one occasion. | The 131 figure includes people who used the service on more than one occasion. |
| It is hoped that the clinic can reduce fatal and non-fatal overdoses by providing a safe and clean place for people to use drugs, while also giving people further support to cope with their addiction. | It is hoped that the clinic can reduce fatal and non-fatal overdoses by providing a safe and clean place for people to use drugs, while also giving people further support to cope with their addiction. |
| As well as safer injecting facilities, users were provided with wound care, clean injecting equipment and naloxone as required. | As well as safer injecting facilities, users were provided with wound care, clean injecting equipment and naloxone as required. |
| A spokesperson for the facility said some users had already engaged with housing and drug treatment support. | A spokesperson for the facility said some users had already engaged with housing and drug treatment support. |
| It is hoped the clinic can cut down on drug overdoses in Glasgow | It is hoped the clinic can cut down on drug overdoses in Glasgow |
| Mr Casey added that the clinic had made a "promising start" since opening. | Mr Casey added that the clinic had made a "promising start" since opening. |
| He added: "It's been an intense first week for the team as all eyes are on Glasgow. | He added: "It's been an intense first week for the team as all eyes are on Glasgow. |
| "I am delighted to hear people are making use of all the facilities available at the Thistle. | "I am delighted to hear people are making use of all the facilities available at the Thistle. |
| "We know this is not a silver bullet - but having a facility that is safe, hygienic and medically supervised will go a long way towards reducing drug-related overdoses, injection-related wounds and infections, and the negative impact that injecting outdoors has on local communities." | "We know this is not a silver bullet - but having a facility that is safe, hygienic and medically supervised will go a long way towards reducing drug-related overdoses, injection-related wounds and infections, and the negative impact that injecting outdoors has on local communities." |
| The facility was first proposed for Glasgow in 2016 but years of debate between the Scottish and UK governments than ensued. | The facility was first proposed for Glasgow in 2016 but years of debate between the Scottish and UK governments than ensued. |
| The facility was finally approved in the autumn of 2023, with running costs expected to reach nearly £7m over the next three years. | The facility was finally approved in the autumn of 2023, with running costs expected to reach nearly £7m over the next three years. |
| It is situated in the city's Hunter Street, next to a clinic where 23 long-term drug users are currently prescribed pharmaceutical heroin. | It is situated in the city's Hunter Street, next to a clinic where 23 long-term drug users are currently prescribed pharmaceutical heroin. |
| A previous report by the NHS estimated approximately 400 to 500 people" used drugs publicly in the city centre on a regular basis, while Scotland has consistently had the highest number of drug death overdoses in Europe. | A previous report by the NHS estimated approximately 400 to 500 people" used drugs publicly in the city centre on a regular basis, while Scotland has consistently had the highest number of drug death overdoses in Europe. |
| The UK government said in 2023 it did not intend to open any clinics elsewhere, but would not interfere in the Glasgow plan. | The UK government said in 2023 it did not intend to open any clinics elsewhere, but would not interfere in the Glasgow plan. |