Greens push for safe consumption rooms

Political battle over drug deaths as Tories vow to scrap pilot

- EDEL KENEALY & DAVID WALKER

shows that safe consumption rooms save lives and reduce the harm caused by drugs

Renfrewshire should have a drug consumption room in a bid to reduce deaths in the area, the co-leader of the Green Party has said.

Gillian Mackay (inset) says a dedicated space for people to take drugs under supervision should be created because Renfrewshire has a higher than average number of drug-related fatalities.

In 2024, the most up-to-date figures available, 46 people in the local authority area lost their lives to illicit drugs-one of the highest figures on record.

The heartbreaking tally means consumption rooms - similar to that of The Thistle, already running in Glasgow - should be rolled out to other communities, Mackay has said.

Speaking yesterday, the Scottish Green Party co-leader said she would like to see the rooms established in all areas where there is an issue with drug misuse.