Expert calls for law change to allow for more safer drug consumption rooms

An expert on drug use has called for the law in the UK to be changed to allow for more safer drug consumption rooms to open.

The call from Catriona Matheson, professor in substance use at the University of Stirling, follows the opening of the UK’s first drug consumption facility in Glasgow.

Ahead of her appearance at Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee, she urged the UK Government to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to allow for more safer drug consumption rooms to be rolled out.

The Thistle Centre officially opened its doors in the east end of Glasgow last month, despite drug law being reserved to Westminster.

In the first evidence session of our follow-up inquiry, we'll hear from experts about the potential of Safer Drug Consumption Facilities in addressing problem drug use.
— Scottish Affairs Committee (@CommonsScotAffs) February 10, 2025

The facility was opened after Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain – Scotland’s top law officer – said in 2023 that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute those who consume drugs within such consumption rooms.

The Scottish Affairs Committee is currently examining the legal and policy challenges faced in setting up and running The Thistle Centre.

MPs in the cross-party committee will also look at how effective the facility is at reducing drug-related harms in the country.

It follows years of Scotland having the highest rates of drug deaths in Europe, with 1,172 people having died due to substance misuse in 2023.

Professor Matheson said: “This inquiry by the Scottish Affairs Committee provides a new opportunity and fresh eyes to not only look at the Glasgow safer drug consumption site but also to consider the implications of that for other parts of the country.

“The signs from the Glasgow safe consumption site are positive in the very early days but there is a lot of information to be learned from that.

“In the meantime, other areas are still struggling with problem drug use across the United Kingdom and this is because of an inability to open safer consumption facilities due to the nature of our Misuse of Drugs Act, which limits the capacity to do that.

“My hope, and the evidence I will give to the committee on Wednesday, is that this is an opportunity for a new government to consider drug law reform and revisiting reform of the Misuse of Drugs Act to enable us to provide these types of facilities in other parts of the country.”