Scottish Greens welcome Lord Advocate advice on safe consumption rooms
Drug safe consumption rooms have an important role to play as part of a more humane and less stigmatising drug policy, says the Scottish Greens health spokesperson Gillian Mackay in response to advice by the Lord Advocate.
Ms Mackay said:
"This is an important step forward and will provide hope and relief for people and families who have had their lives impacted by drug misuse.
"The most important thing a drug policy can do is save lives. Safe consumption rooms are not a fix-all solution, but they have an important role to play as part of a more humane and less stigmatising system.
"This is a vindication for the campaigners and families who have led the calls for change. Far too many lives have been cut short by years of bad decision making.
"We need to learn from this advice, but also from countries like Portugal who have taken a health-led approach and offered support to people struggling with addiction.
“I hope that the UK government recognises and respects this advice and that we can make important progress on what is a longstanding national tragedy.”