Drugs crusader calls for overdose prevention centre in Scotland's drug death capital

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Drugs crusader Peter Krykant is seeking to set up an Overdose Prevention Centre in Scotland's worst drug deaths blackspot. Krykant, who won international renown for his unofficial drugs van in Glasgow, was in the city yesterday seeking locations for facilities he believes can save lives.

He found areas with the same drug debris in dingy alleyways. In one locations he found a spoon used to "cook up" heroin and a used dose of naloxone, the drug used to counter opiate overdoses. READ MORE: Drugs minister reads riot act on local authority bosses after damning verdict on Scotland's "disaster" drugs strategy Dundee has the highest long-term death rate per head of any council area in Scotland - an average of 43.1 per 100,000 people between 2016 and 2020, or an average of 63 deaths each year.

Recovering addict Krykant said: “In a nutshell, I’d like to see proper urgency shown to set up services that almost everyone in Scotland supports.“If we could be shown the green light, we could have facilities in Dundee that would provide a safe Overdose Prevention Centre, with full nursing support and peer involvement in its running.”This could mean that people who are connected with the drug taking community can advise on what will work, on what the drug taking trends are and in administering naloxone.“The obvious benefit of this would be allowing trusted people, with genuine knowledge, the chance to make a massive step forward into employment and meaningful lives.“It would also make very good sense to use their relevant knowledge to give a head start in what works and what does not.”Krykant said as well as saving lives with his overdose prevention work he hopes to help addicts overcome stigma and get into employment.He said: “We have