Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership has applied to pilot a safe consumption facility hub for drug-checking services as part of its wider efforts to reduce drug-related harms.

This hub would deliver the service to check what’s really in drugs on the same site as the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility scheduled to open later this year but relies upon UK government approval.

Glasgow now follows Aberdeen and Dundee’s lead in submitting a license application to the Home Office to deliver a pilot of this service.

The Glasgow drug-checking service would allow people dependent on drugs to submit a sample to be tested, and the staff would then identify the substance and provide specific health and harm-reduction information to the user.

Earlier this year, applications from Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA) in Aberdeen and Hillcrest Futures in Dundee for similar facilities were submitted with the Scottish government committing £1m to help establish the three sites, to help reduce harm and support Public Health Scotland’s efforts to track drug trends and spot drug death risks.

Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Christina McKelvie says Glasgow’s licence application is a “welcome milestone”:

“Drug-checking facilities would enable us to respond faster to emerging drug trends – which is particularly important given the presence of highly dangerous, super-strong synthetic opioids like nitazenes in an increasingly toxic and unpredictable drug supply.

“These increase the risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death, and are being found in a range of substances.

“We’re taking a wide range of measures to reduce harm and save lives - including the opening of a Safe Drug Consumption Facility pilot in Glasgow, supported by £2.3m in ringfenced funding.

“I was pleased to see the progress that has been made and I’m grateful to everyone involved for their hard work.”

Meanwhile, Glasgow’s City Convener for Workforce, Homelessness and Addiction Services Councillor Allan Casey says the application marks another “step towards” providing comprehensive harm-reduction measures.

Councillor Casey says that engaging with individuals and the community is a key part of addressing drug-related harms in Scotland:

“Being able to test drug samples on site will give staff the opportunity to engage with service users about what they're using and provide harm-reduction advice and support. 

“Engagement with local businesses, residents and community groups regarding the opening of our safer drug consumption facility is still ongoing.

“We recently completed a successful recruitment campaign, supported by volunteers with lived experience, and staff will be coming into post in the coming weeks, where they will undertake induction and training plans.”

As well as the three pilot local testing places, a new national hub at Dundee University providing more detailed testing at Ninewells Hospital will also apply for Home Office permission to provide a Scotland-wide service later this year.

Scotland’s Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Christine McKelvie recognised that these hubs must come as part of wider efforts in Scotland:

“This facility is not a silver bullet. But we know from evidence from more than 100 facilities worldwide that they work.”

Earlier this month a third sector event heard from Austin Smith at the Scottish Drugs Forum that the impact of stigma spans from those health and care services to the wider community, worsening people’s mental and physical health.

Read more: Safe consumption rooms key for drug harms; Employment support needed for Scotland’s carers; Inside Scotland's widening health inequalities; Barriers remain in accessing residential rehab; Decriminalisation call to support drug deaths mission; Addiction and recovery employment scheme grows