Plans for drug injecting centre in Glasgow welcomed by public health chiefs

The city's Alcohol and Drug Partnership is considering the radical proposal to tackle rising HIV cases amongst drug users and risk to the public from discarded needles.

Dr Andrew Fraser said a surge in HIV infections passing between injectors required "special measures" and it was right to consider "all options."

Current estimates suggest some 500 people are injecting drugs in public places in the city centre.

Read more: Thousands of dirty needles dumped by Glasgow drug addicts posing major health risk

Last year saw an HIV outbreak in the city with 47 new infections compared to the previously consistent annual average of 10.

There have also been several other outbreaks of serious infectious diseases such as botulism and anthrax.

Figures show that of 13,000 needles distributed to drug users in Glasgow, only 16 were returned for safe disposal.

Dr Andrew Fraser, Chair of the SDsPH and Director of Public Health Science at NHS Health Scotland, said: “The current upsurge of HIV infection passing between drug injectors in Glasgow requires special measures.

"Glasgow's ADP is right to consider all options that are proportionate with the serious situation they face.

"There is strong evidence that such a service can be an effective preventive measure to reduce drug-related deaths and connect high-risk drug users with addiction treatment and other health and social services.”

A business case will be compiled for consideration by the ADP in early autumn.

Read more: Plans for UK's first drug injecting centre in Glasgow

Consultation with the Scottish Government is also required to ensure the legal framework is in place to allow any facility to be developed.

Medically supervised drug injecting facilities have been running since the mid-1980s with 90 facilities across 61 cities currently running.

The majority are in Europe, there is one in Vancouver, one in Sydney and approval has been granted for facilities in Dublin and across France.