SCOTLAND’S Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick has visited a medically supervised safer drug consumption facility in Paris to see first-hand how it operates.
The Espace Gaia, near the Gare du Nord, opened in 2016 and has 1200 registered users.
Plans for a similar facility in Glasgow were put on hold last year after Scotland’s top law officer, the Lord Advocate, said it would be illegal unless the UK Government changes the law.
READ MORE: How devolving drug policy could cut Scotland's disproportionate death rate
FitzPatrick said: “My visit provided an invaluable insight into how medically supervised safer drug consumption facilities can work. These sorts of centres exist around the world. What Scotland faces in terms of drugs-related deaths is an emergency and I am convening an expert group to advise on what further changes, in practice or in law, could help save lives and reduce harm.
READ MORE: Call for rehab cash to help users get off methadone
“The Scottish Government is supportive of a proposal by Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership to set up a facility similar to Espace Gaia, particularly in light of the growing number of HIV cases in the city.
“For this to happen, the UK Government needs to change the law. If they refuse, we want them to devolve this responsibility so the Scottish Parliament can act.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here