ScotRail Alliance is to reconsider the decision to close Scotland's largest needle exchange, located in Glasgow Central Station.

The exchange opened in July 2016, but Network Rail said it was forced to shut it down after drug-taking equipment was found in public areas.

Public health minister Aileen Campbell said the government recognised "very real concerns" about the move.

And she told MSPs that bosses had "agreed to look again" at the decision.

Read more here.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says the outbreak of HIV in Glasgow is a "completely needless public health crisis".

Scottish Greens have long believe drug abuse is a public health issue she says and offers her support to the government for opening a safe injection facility.

She criticises the "counterproductive insistence" that drugs be treated as a criminal issue.

The Green MSP also raises concerns about the recent closure of the needle exchange service in Glasgow Central Station.

Drug consumption facilities will make our cities safer for everyone and there is no evidence that they will increase drug use, Ms Johnstone argues.

Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) are multi-agency groups tasked by the Scottish government with tackling alcohol and drug issues through partnership working.

Responsibility is devolved to Scotland's 30 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) to commission evidence-based, person-centred and recovery-focused treatment services to meet the needs of their resident populations.

Alcohol and Drug Partnerships are accountable to local Community Planning Partnerships:

• Drug and Alcohol Drug Partnerships - Contact list, external

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole Hamilton says his party will support the Scottish government's motion.

However, he criticises cuts to alcohol and drug partnerships which he claims was around 23%.

Ms Campbell intervenes to highlight drug deaths have been rising since the mid 1990s.

Mr Cole-Hamilton accepts this but argues the government's response should not have been to cut support.

There is a direct correlation with a rise in HIV rates in Glasgow and drug-related deaths, he says.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Mr Sarwar says the Labour Party back the government's proposal here today, but will not give it a free ride.

The Labour MSP highlights the cutting the funding to ADPs by the Scottish government.

He too says the drug strategy is failing.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar says young people are using drugs at the rate a higher rate, even if the specific substance has changed.

"We are kidding ourselves on if we don't believe young people are using drugs."

Mr Sarwar says Scotland is "failing" as a nation to tackle the problem and he accepts part of the blame on behalf of Labour for not doing enough when it was in power.

He confirms his party will support the Scottish government's motion.

Labour will support devolution of powers if no other solution is found, the MSP says.

Image source, SP

The minister intervenes and says some people are far away from abstinence and need help with their recovery.

This is not about "either, or" and services must be provided for those people, says Ms Campbell.

Ms Wells says that is why the whole solution must be looked at rather than setting up a place for people who are so far removed that we say there you go take heroin.

Is that not like saying we have forgotten about them, asks the Tory MSP

A chorus of no comes from the SNP front benches.

Ms Wells condemns cuts to alcohol and drug partnerships.

Methadone was implicated in 42% of drug-related fatalities the Tory MSP says, and rails against the lack of information about methadone users.

Locally-based abstinence programmes are "vitally important".

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's top prosecutor has refused to back a controversial plan to set up the UK's first so-called "fix room".

The injecting facility in Glasgow aimed to give drug addicts a safe environment to inject under supervision.

The proposal was being driven by the area health board and city council after a steep rise in HIV cases.

However, the scheme had required Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC to allow possession of street-bought heroin within the facility.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Annie Wells says she fundamentally does not support the creation of safe injection facilities.

Ms Wells calls for a whole sector led drug strategy review and an open discussion on what the drawbacks of a safe injection facility would be.

She cites examples of people she grew up with who have sufferred drug related deaths.

The Tory MSP says the government's flagship drugs strategy, the Road to Recovery, external, has been branded a complete failure.

Image source, Scottish government

Image source, Scottish government

Labour MSP Neil Findlay urges the minister to bring back a debate to discuss the holistic approach to drugs policy.

Ms Campbell says she is happy to engage with parties across the chamber.

The Road to Recovery strategy refresh will seek to build on progress while also not shying away from gaps, she states.

Options available to use are limited by problems in Glasgow are extensive enough to consider other solutions, the minister states.

I seek the backing of parliament to help change this, concludes Ms Campbell.

Image source, Science Photo Library

Last year we reported that the Scottish government was to seek devolution of drugs laws to allow users to take heroin safely under medical supervision.

A "fix room" was planned for Glasgow because of an increase in street injecting in the city, and a rise in HIV infections among users.

Scottish ministers said the idea was "ambitious and innovative."

But the Home Office, which controls drug legislation, said it was illegal, and expected police to enforce the law.

Read more here.

Lib Dem MSP ALex Cole-Hamilton calls for ADP's budgets to be protected in the future, saying they have not been to date.

The minister hits back saying the government has invested in ADPs to record levels.

Scotland has 30 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs)