Last week Dr Gillian Shorter discussed evidence on drug consumption rooms with the Scottish Affairs Committee in Westminster. Drawing upon her extensive research on these facilities, Gillian brought international evidence to the panel of experts on the new Safer Drug Consumption Facilities in Glasgow (The Thistle) at the Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry.  She was joined by Professor Andrew McAuley (Glasgow Caledonian University); Professor Vittal Katikireddi (University of Glasgow), and Professor Catriona Matheson (University of Stirling).

The session covered a range of issues including the reasons for drug use, Scottish context, if and how these services work, and how international evidence may be applied to the UK context.

Gillian said “I was delighted to share our research findings with Parliamentarians last week. These facilities are not new, and there is much to learn from the international experience. We discussed how these facilities improve health and wellbeing, connect individuals with services, save tax-payer money, with no increase in crime”.

You can rewatch the session and Gillian’s contribution Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility