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This Is Why

Consumption rooms: How much of a solution for Scotland’s drug problem?

This Is Why

Sky News

News, Daily News, News Commentary

4.0552 Ratings

🗓️ 27 September 2023

⏱️ 25 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Scotland will be home to the UK’s first so-called ‘consumption rooms’ where drug users will be able to get their fix more safely.

Recent stats showed that despite a fall this year, Scotland still has the highest number of drugs-related deaths per million population in Europe.

Now, plans have been approved for a £2.3 million facility at Hunter Street Health Centre in Glasgow – despite opposition from Westminster.

On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies who talks about the unit itself and reaction to it. Plus, Niall speaks to Andrew Cowan, whose son Daniel died after taking a fatal drug concoction, and Annemarie Ward, from the charity Faces and Voices of Recovery UK.

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Podcast producer: Alex Edden
Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi
Podcast promotion producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John
Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce
Editor: Paul Stanworth

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Sorry to interrupt your day, but I've just been diagnosed with dementia, and I'm going to need your help.

0:07.1

I'll need help when I can no longer button a shirt or recognise my own family.

0:12.6

My daughter will need help too. I worry this could ruin her life.

0:17.7

And we will all need help to find a cure to end the devastation of dementia.

0:23.1

I can't do this alone.

0:25.9

It will take a society to beat dementia, Alzheimer's Society.

0:30.1

This Easter at M&S, you'll find a selection of the yummias chocolate animals.

0:34.5

There's hiccup the hippo with his darling chubby little legs. And Sunny the

0:38.9

sloth beaming with his milk and white chocolate features. Toby the T-Rex, who's a bit green,

0:44.6

bit scary, but charming at the same time. And Ralph the Cavapoo. I almost don't want to bite

0:50.6

his scrumptious little nose right off. But I will.

0:56.4

All of these cuties for just £7 each.

0:57.5

This is not just food.

0:58.9

This is M&S food.

1:00.0

Selected stores.

1:03.0

Scotland has long had a problem with drugs.

1:05.2

In fact, it's a topic we covered previously.

1:07.8

With the highest drug death rate in Europe,

1:10.1

the question has less been why,

1:12.2

more what on earth can be done.

1:17.6

And a decision by Scotland's Lord Advocate, the nation's chief law officer, may have provided at least part of the answer. Soon, the Hunter Street Health Centre in Glasgow's East End

1:23.2

will be home to a pilot scheme where addicts can take their drugs in a hygienic environment

...

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