LIVES SAVED AT FIRST SAFE DRUG ROOM

17 people would have died, boss says

- CRAIG PATON

THE boss of the UK's first safer drug consumption room has said she is "fully convinced" more people would be dead from overdoses without the centre.

The Thistle opened in Glasgow in January after years of wrangling between the Scottish and UK governments, allowing those who inject drugs a safe place to do so, with medical professionals on hand should they be needed.

The centre has witnessed 17 overdoses since opening, according to service manager Lynn Macdonald.