Full business case to be developed for pilot safer drug consumption facility & heroin assisted treatment in Glasgow

Glasgow City Joint Integration Board (IJB) has approved the development of a full business case for the facility which will be considered at the board’s meeting in February. 

The proposed service model of a co-located safer consumption facility and treatment service is based on the review of existing facilities in Europe, Canada and Australia by the Alcohol & Drug Partnership’s short life working group. 

Following stakeholder feedback, the working group has concluded that any potential service must offer additional ‘wrap around’ services on the premises such as primary health care, addictions counselling, and housing and welfare advice. 

The group has also advised that any safer injecting facility should also provide the means for the supervised inhalation of drugs to maximise engagement with the target population and increase the potential for harm reduction. As a result, the proposed facility will now be referred to as a safer consumption facility and treatment service. 

Further work will now be undertaken to identify options for the location of the facility. This work will involve consultation with local communities and businesses before a specific location can be identified. 

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