Words: Lorcan Adams (he/him)
TW: Drugs/Addiction
If we ever want to defeat the scourge of drug addiction, we need to start by recognising it for what it is: a public health crisis. Not something done by shady figures in backalleys out of personal failure, but a terrible affliction which requires empathy and support to treat, rather than harsh imprisonment.
It’s no secret that drug addiction is a staggering problem in Scotland. We have the highest per capita drug deaths in Europe at 191 per million people; Estonia follows at a significantly lower rate of 135 per million. Although this number has decreased over the last few years, the fact it remains so large highlights the severity of the crisis. Over a thousand people in Scotland die every year due to drugs, and the heartbreaking ripple effect this has on families, friends, and communities further compounds the tragedy. It is a national emergency. But how did the situation get so bad? And what can be done to resolve it?
As with many of the problems plaguing the nation, we have to look back to deindustrialisation to find the root cause. As factories closed and many lost their jobs, tens of thousands were plunged into poverty. Livelihoods were destroyed, communities left destitute. Eventually, some turned to drugs as a means of escape from an increasingly grim reality. Moreover, this deprivation can have a devastating generational impact on families. This is even felt today, with 2021 research revealing that people in the poorest areas of Scotland were 15 times more likely to have a drug-related death than those in the wealthiest areas. Although the giant of poverty must be tackled in order to fully wipe out addiction, there is still an effective, humane policy which can be implemented to help.
The Thistle opened a year ago, on January 13th 2025. It is a “Safer Drug Consumption Facility” run by local health organisations, and the first of its kind in the UK. The Thistle offers a secure, hygienic location for people to take drugs they have brought in with no risk of arrest. Trained health and social care professionals are on site to assist anyone who comes through their doors and to ensure they remain safe. For those grappling with addiction, it is a clean, supervised space where they can access support to change their lives. It is a revolutionary institution: providing an excellent template for how to properly address the drug crisis engulfing the country.
In its 1 year of existence, the facility has recorded over 11,000 visits by 575 people who are now registered there, with 612 referred to other services in efforts to help them beat their addiction. Crucially, The Thistle oversaw 93 medical emergencies, all of which were handled safely. Speaking of the site, Maree Todd, Scotland’s drug minister stated ‘Through the ability of staff to respond quickly in the event of an overdose, it has undoubtedly saved lives.’ This service has undeniably made a real change for people in the local area. Experts involved with the project have said that the progress achieved in its first year has exceeded expectations – the future looking promising. The Thistle’s success has even spurred Edinburgh council into action, as they make plans for a similar facility in the city’s old town.
Surely, then, it’s a no-brainer to set up more facilities across the country, with the goal of widening access to such a transformative service. Yet, in characteristic meekness, the Labour government has refused to do so. The Scottish Affairs Committee recommended that legislation should be changed to allow more safe consumption sites to open across Scotland. In response, the government refused to look into altering the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, stating that it ‘does not support drug consumption rooms or expansion of facilities at The Thistle.’
This was not a radical proposal which included total decriminalisation. However, Portugal did change their legislation in this direction and saw massive reductions in drug related deaths and HIV diagnoses. The Scottish proposal was fairly modest, pushing for the expansion of these trial centres to create more positive outcomes. So why would the government drag their heels on something so simple?
Well, firstly it would pressure them to alter the archaic drug legislation that has dominated our legal system for so long. It would also require proper funding and support to thrive, which governments are notoriously adverse to doing, even when it means saving lives. But finally, it would force those in power to address their own failures. Not just in drug laws and policing, but also in the shameful spread of poverty which has allowed this issue to appear in the first place.
If we ever want to defeat the scourge of drug addiction, we need to start by recognising it for what it is: a public health crisis. Not something done by shady figures in backalleys out of personal failure, but a terrible affliction which requires empathy and support to treat, rather than harsh imprisonment. Only then can we hope to have healthier, happier and safer communities.
