Safe consumption rooms could be rolled out across Scotland, says SNP drugs minister

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Safe consumption rooms could be opened where ever they are needed in Scotland if a pilot scheme proves they can work, an SNP minister has said.Elena Whitham said today she would "absolutely like to see" more of the facilities which aim to prevent overdoses and reduce deaths.The Scottish Government minister for drug policy also predicted Westminster "probably won't" try to block a pilot scheme from opening in Glasgow.It followed a statement yesterday from Scotland's top law officer which said it would not be in the public interest to prosecute individuals for possession who were using such facilities.Dorothy Bain, the Lord Advocate, stressed she had not been asked to "sign off or approve" such a facility but it is now clear that no one using such a facility at an authorised pilot to be set up in Glasgow will fear prosecution.Council bosses and health chiefs now hope to unveil plans as soon as next month.SNP ministers and public health campaigners have repeatedly called for Holyrood to be given the powers to set up a pilot project as part of its efforts to tackle drugs deaths north of the Border, where the rate is the highest in Europe.

But the UK Government has consistently opposed that, sticking to heavily criticised prohibition principles enshrined in the Misuse of Drugs Act.Asked if similar facilities could be opened in other Scots cities, Whitham said: "There are over 100 of these around the world and we already know there is a huge body of evidence that they do save lives."But we need to gather evidence in Scotland and that's why this is a pilot, that's the only way that the Lord Advocate would set out her position."Eventually I would absolutely like to see these facilities wherever they are needed, so we can get as