Committee examines the case for Glasgow’s pilot Safer Drug Consumption Facility

• Inquiry: Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility
• Watch: Oral evidence session
• Scottish Affairs Committee

This inquiry will examine the legal and policy challenges faced in setting up and running the pilot SDCF, which opened in Glasgow in January. It will also follow up on relevant aspects of its predecessor committee’s work on this issue in the 2017-9 Parliament.  

The cross-party Committee could ask the experts about the drivers of problem drug use and drug-related harm in Scotland and explore the criminal justice and public health approaches to addressing these issues.  

SDCF’s are a prime example of how a public health approach to problem drug use can be implemented. Members could discuss how these facilities seek to reduce drug-related harm, how they can combat the spread of blood borne viruses, and how they can connect individuals with wider support and addiction services. The value for money of these facilities, and their impact on local communities, may also be explored.  

MPs may ask the experts for their views on whether there is a strong case for the opening of Glasgow’s pilot SDCF, and when a possible impact from the facility will be seen in the city. There could be questions on what ‘success’ would look like for the facility, and how the pilot should be evaluated. 

Witnesses at 09:30am: 

• Dr Gillian Shorter, Reader in Clinical Psychology, Queens University Belfast 
• Professor Catriona Matheson, Professor in Substance Abuse, University of Stirling 
• Professor Andrew McAuley, Professor of Public Health at Glasgow Caledonian University 
• Professor Vittal Katikireddi, Professor of Public Health & Health Inequalities, University of Glasgow 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Images: House of Commons