No rehab referrals in Glasgow safer drugs room in two months

THE boss of Glasgow’s safer drugs consumption room has admitted there have been no referrals to rehab since it launched two months ago.

- By David Walker Scottish Politics Reporter

And Lynn Macdonald also confirmed that there had been 47 overdoses at the facility where addicts are allowed to inject drugs under supervision from medical professionals.

The flagship policy was proposed by Holyrood in a bid to cut down drug deaths in Scotland which had sky-rocketed to record levels and led to the country becoming the drug death capital in Europe.

But critics believe the £2.3million invested should have gone elsewhere, including boosting the number of rehab beds.

Addicts are allowed to inject heroin and cocaine in the facility, which has been branded a “heroin shooting gallery” by critics. Plans are in motion to amend the smoking act and allow illegal substances to be smoked indoors as a further opportunity for addicts to use drugs.