First week figures revealed for Glasgow drug consumption room

Cllr 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.

“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.”

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.

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.

The UK government said in 2023 it did not intend to open any clinics elsewhere, but would not interfere in the Glasgow plan.