Shooting gallery under scrutiny as drug deaths soar

THE SNP has been told that its much lauded drugs-consumption room “is not working” after drug deaths have again soared over the past three months.

- By David Walker

The “heroin shooting gallery” was opened in Glasgow in January, with addicts allowed to inject legally under medical supervision.

But so far it has failed to improve Scotland’s scandalous record of drug misuse fatalities. New figures show increased levels of drug-related harm across Scotland, with Public Health Scotland (PHS) raising concerns.

Suspected drug deaths rose by 15% between March and May 2025 compared to the previous quarter and 7% higher than the same period in 2024.

During the same time, there was also a 45% increase in the use of naloxone [a drug that reverses overdoses] and a 19% rise in A&E visits related to drugs. PHS’s report suggested that drug-related harms were “approaching” peaks seen before the Covid pandemic when record fatalities were recorded.