Glasgow Safer Drug Consumption Facility (Preparations)

Part of General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 10 October 2024.

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Photo of Neil Gray Neil Gray Scottish National Party

I recognise the long-standing interest that Annie Wells has shown in that area. She is right that there is no silver bullet—no one answer to our addressing the levels of drug deaths that we are seeing, which I acknowledge are far too high.

Annie Wells is also right that it is not only harm reduction that is important, but residential rehab. We are funding the facility in Glasgow for £2 million annually for the next few years and we have committed £100 million over the lifetime of the national mission for the expansion of residential rehab. That includes £38 million, which will increase the number of publicly funded beds by 140. Public Health Scotland said in its February report that we are on track to meet the target of 1,000 publicly funded places in residential rehab by the end of 2026.