Could drug consumption rooms become legal in Scotland?

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A Westminster committee said drug policy should be devolved to allow an overdose prevention centre pilot – but will it happen?

Campaigners and some politicians have called for more radical action, including the introduction of OPCs - which have been operating in a number of countries in Europe and North America for years.

The then-Lord Advocate James Wolffe KC - Scotland's top prosecutor - declined to back the plan in 2017, saying the issue was a public health matter rather than a justice one. She said: "Then in terms of the undoubted crisis that we face in relation to the number of drugs deaths in Scotland, if it is in the public interest that there should be no prosecutions for those using drug consumption facilities with all these safeguards that require to be in place, then that would require a fresh consideration by me as Lord Advocate."instead of facing prosecution.

In the nine months in operated, nearly 900 injections were supervised, while they recorded "nine successful interventions in overdose events".: "It is feasible for an overdose prevention service to operate successfully in the UK without being shut down by the police or with negative consequences for the community."to introduce OPCs and allow people to be "treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded".

Scotland's Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham welcomed the report from the Home Affairs Committee and said the Scottish government has "long called for agreement from the UK Government to allow us to do this, whether to support us in establishing a pilot or through devolving the necessary powers to allow us to do so".

 

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Lord Advocate gives green light for safe drug consumption rooms in ScotlandSNP ministers and public health campaigners have long called for a trial of safe consumption rooms to help lower the country's shameful number of deaths from drugs.
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