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. The Committee will consider the …
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd report - Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgo… | HC 630 | 16 Sep 2025 | 21 | Responded |
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, it is also expensive. The Thistle could prove good value …
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 properly considered, it must be recognised that the scale of …
It is also clear to us that SDCFs must not come at the cost of funding current recovery services. It is not an ‘either/or’. Rather, SDCFs are just one tool available to combat problem drug use, which is complementary to, and works in tandem with, recovery services. (Conclusion, Paragraph 84)
The Thistle is an example of just one model of a safer drug consumption facility, and it is possible that others — such as mobile units — could provide more cost-effective solutions, or interventions better suited to the needs of local populations. There could be merit in exploring other service …
Community support and the impact of the SDCF on the local community is of paramount importance to the success of The Thistle. While we are reassured that the ongoing independent evaluation is monitoring the levels of discarded paraphernalia and the wider impact on the local community, and recognising the international …
A responsive communication strategy must be developed by The Thistle, agreed by the Community Forum, and put in place as soon as possible in order to support the community engagement and partnership working that is crucial to the success of the project. (Conclusion, Paragraph 104)
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 take time for the local effects of The Thistle to …
The Home Office should urgently complete its assessment of The Thistle for a drug checking licence and should ensure any necessary support is provided to ensure The Thistle is successful in its application. The Home Office should provide an update on the progress of the drug checking license in its …
| Date | Witnesses | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2025 | Laura Zeballos · Scottish Government, Marcus Starling · Home Office, Neil Gray MSP · Scottish Government, Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP · Home Office | View ↗ |
| 7 May 2025 | Dorothy Bain KC, The Lord Advocate, Jenny Hamilton · Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Superintendent Joanne McEwan, Police Scotland | View ↗ |
| 5 Mar 2025 | 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 | View ↗ |
| 12 Feb 2025 | Andrew McAuley · Glasgow Caledonian University, Catriona Matheson · The University of Stirling, Gillian Shorter · Queen’s University Belfast, Vittal Katikireddi · The University of Glasgow | View ↗ |
| Date | Direction | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep 2025 | To cttee | Letter from Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention regarding Thistle Licen… |
| 19 Mar 2025 | To cttee | Letter from Annemarie Ward, CEO of Faces & Voices of Recovery UK, regarding ora… |
| 12 Feb 2025 | — | Correspondence to the Chair from Fiona McIntyre, Royal Pharmaceutical Society S… |