Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility
Scottish Affairs Committee
Closed
Inquiry
This inquiry is examining the legal and policy challenges faced in setting up and running the pilot Safer Drugs Consumption Facility (SDCF) which opened in Glasgow in January 2025. This inquiry will examine the case for the facility, as well as its medical effectiveness in reducing drug-related harm in Scotland. …
Read more
9
Recommendations
12
Conclusions
1
Report
4
Oral sessions
3
Letters
5
Events
Activity timeline 10 events
20 Nov
2025
2025
16 Sep
2025
2025
3 Sep
2025
2025
3 Sep
2025
2025
Formal meeting (private meeting) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
4 Jun
2025
2025
Oral evidence
7 May
2025
2025
Oral evidence
19 Mar
2025
2025
5 Mar
2025
2025
12 Feb
2025
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
4 Jun 2025
View on parliament.uk
Glasgow’s SDCF – Session 4
Laura Zeballos · Scottish Government
Marcus Starling · Home Office
Neil Gray MSP · Scottish Government
Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP · Home Office
7 May 2025
View on parliament.uk
Glasgow’s SDCF – Session 3
Dorothy Bain KC, The Lord Advocate
Jenny Hamilton · Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Superintendent Joanne McEwan, Police Scotland
5 Mar 2025
View on parliament.uk
Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility
Councillor Allan Casey · Glasgow City Council
Dr Saket Priyadarshi · NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Kelda Gaffney · Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership
Lynn MacDonald · NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
12 Feb 2025
View on parliament.uk
Glasgow’s SDCF – Session 1
Andrew McAuley · Glasgow Caledonian University
Catriona Matheson · The University of Stirling
Gillian Shorter · Queen’s University Belfast
Vittal Katikireddi · The University of Glasgow
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd report - Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s S… | HC 630 | 16 Sep 2025 | 21 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
6
Conclusion
Acknowledged
3rd report - Problem drug use in S…
The 'gold standard' Thistle facility is expensive, leaving alternative cost-effective models untested.
Given the severity of problem drug use in Glasgow, it is clear that decisive, radical action is needed. The Thistle is a gold standard facility and represents an intervention that is commensurate with the scale of Glasgow’s drug problem. However, …
Read more
Government Response
The government notes that The Thistle is subject to an independent evaluation and states they will welcome any evidence that emerges following the three-year pilot.
Scotland Office
View details
7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
3rd report - Problem drug use in S…
Addressing Scotland's severe drug crisis requires significant, commensurate investment due to high fatalities.
However, any discussion of the cost of The Thistle must be considered in the context of Scotland’s drugs crisis, with 1,172 people having died from drugs in 2023 alone. While it is right that the cost of The Thistle is …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the Committee’s concern over drug deaths in Scotland and recognizes the specific challenges of substance misuse there, committing to work closely with the Scottish Government despite differing approaches.
Scotland Office
View details
12
Recommendation
Acknowledged
3rd report - Problem drug use in S…
Engage key stakeholders and the local community to address concerns about The Thistle's impact.
It is vital that key stakeholders of The Thistle are engaged to address concerns about the impact of the facility and continue to work with the local community on how to address any concerns raised. We recognise that it may …
Read more
Government Response
The government notes that The Thistle is subject to an independent evaluation and states they will welcome any evidence that emerges as part of that following the three-year pilot, but does not commit to engaging stakeholders or taking specific action based on the evaluation.
Scotland Office
View details
18
Recommendation
Acknowledged
3rd report - Problem drug use in S…
Require UK Government to seriously consider evaluation of The Thistle and merits of SDCFs.
The Minister has stated that the UK Government will consider the evidence emerging from the pilot. However, it was clear from the Minister’s evidence that the Home Office will not make legislative changes, even if the evaluation finds that the …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges its commitment to an evidence-based approach to drug policy within the law, citing various existing evidence-based programs as examples.
Scotland Office
View details
19
Recommendation
Acknowledged
3rd report - Problem drug use in S…
Demonstrate an evidence-based approach and consider The Thistle's independent evaluation for policymaking.
The UK Government must demonstrate that it has an evidence-based approach to policy making and will consider the independent evaluation of The Thistle. Any intervention found to be effective at saving lives and reducing harm should not be dismissed. (Recommendation, …
Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges its commitment to an evidence-based approach to drug policy, citing existing programs like Individual Placement and Support, naloxone availability, and heroin-assisted treatment.
Scotland Office
View details
Correspondence 3 letters
3 Sep 2025
To committee
Letter from Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention regarding Thistle License, dated 21 July 2025
Parliament page
19 Mar 2025
To committee
Letter from Annemarie Ward, CEO of Faces & Voices of Recovery UK, regarding oral evidence presented to the Committee as part of its inquiry into Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility, dated 6 March 2025
Parliament page
12 Feb 2025
Correspondence to the Chair from Fiona McIntyre, Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland, regarding Problem Drug Use in Scotland Follow-up: Glasgow's Safer Drug Consumption Facility, dated 30 January 202
Parliament page