December 23, 2024

Glasgow Standard

News and features from GCU Journalism Students

Trongate drug needle bin called “success” by Councillor

A drug bin was installed in December in an alley to allow people who are using syringes away from home to dispose of them safely and discretely.

The trial of the bin has been so successful that there are now calls for more to be set up around the city.

Glasgow City Council has also been given the go-ahead to set up a safe drug consumption facility in the same area.

Councillor Allan Casey speaking to the Glasgow Times said: “Thankfully we have permission to move forward to open a drug consumption facility in that area of the city, which will make a huge difference in terms of the support for people with addiction issues in the city centre.”

This is to help reduce drug overdoses and deaths.

Up until 2022 Scotland had some of the highest drug deaths in the world. Highlighting the need for these spaces.

Jan Mayor from Turningpoint Scotland commented on safe consumption rooms: “We need drug consumption rooms that are less clinical, and drug consumption facilities that allow smoking.”

“One of the things we’ve done well in Glasgow is called route transmission where we’ve encouraged people who used to inject all the time to change some of their use to smoking.”

“If you inject less times, that’s less damage to the immune system, the skin being the first part of your immune system.”

However, it seems that despite the steps Scotland is taking, every day there are new and different drugs going on the streets.

Scotland has now seen 25 deaths related to synthetic opioids, similar to the ones America is currently experiencing a problem with.

If you or anyone you know are struggling with an addiction problem you can reach out to Turningpoint here: https://www.turningpointscotland.com/

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