Bid to let drug users smoke cocaine in consumption room

Health experts believe a smoking room should be added to the Thistle

Health officials in Glasgow are planning to make the case for a smoking space to be added to the city's drug consumption room.

The Thistle, which opened on Hunter Street in January, is a facility in which people can inject heroin or cocaine while under medical supervision without being prosecuted.

Officials involved in the three-year pilot project say a smoking space for taking cocaine is "critical in order to realise the full benefit" of the facility.

Members of the city's integration joint board (IJB) — which oversees health and social care services — will be asked to approve the development of a business case for an inhalation space later.

Since the Thistle opened, cocaine has been reported as 67% of substances injected, but officials said there is anecdotal evidence of a shift to smoking or inhalation of drugs, particularly cocaine.

The IJB report states recent overdose clusters in Glasgow have been "linked to increased smoking/inhalation of crack cocaine which has been contaminated with other substances."

In September Glasgow's health board warned drug users against inhaling crack cocaine following a series of suspected drug incidents.

It is currently not legal for Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership to operate a smoking room, but it is planning talks with the Scottish government over amending regulations to define the Thistle as an "exempt service".

The Thistle is able to operate after the Lord Advocate announced users would not be prosecuted for possessing illegal drugs while on the site.

A report to the IJB states if a smoking/inhalation room is added then the statement of prosecution policy may need to be amended, requiring further discussions with the Crown Office and the Lord Advocate.

Legal issues, as well as costs and staffing and the best location for the space, would be explored during the development of the full business case.

The Thistle opened in January

A room for smoking drugs was included in the original plans, but was dropped due to potential delays while legal issues were explored, as well as extra costs and ventilation requirements.

Cocaine was implicated in 52% of drug-related deaths in Glasgow in 2024.

Officials added feedback highlighted the lack of inhalation spaces as "the main barrier to using the service".

The report said creating a smoking/inhalation space would let staff encourage clients to transition from injection to smoking, as well as reach out to users who do not use the Thistle.

Inhalation rooms consist of individual enclosed booths that have a ventilation system designed to remove smoke and vapour. Community engagement on the proposed service is planned.

By 31 October, 494 individuals had registered to use the Thistle, with 8,236 visits and 5,552 recorded injecting episodes.

Staff had managed 69 medical emergencies and over 360 referrals to other services had been made.

Most often these referrals were to housing services but also to alcohol and drug recovery services and other clinical services.

Last week the UK government said it would not make changes to drug laws to allow the creation of more legal drug consumption rooms.

Reporting by local democracy reporter Drew Sandelands.