Drugs deaths increase again despite the opening of the controversial drugs consumption room.

**Scottish drug-related deaths are at the highest rate in Europe.**

By Democrat reporter

The Scottish Daily Express is reporting that the SNP have been shamed once again over drug deaths after they INCREASED despite the opening of the controversial drugs consumption room.

The facility, which has been branded a “heroin shooting gallery,” opened officially on January 13, giving addicts a space to inject themselves with illegal substances under the watchful eye of medical professionals.

But its creation has been littered with issues, including the fact no one has been checked in for rehab after attending there. And there were also 17 overdoses reported in the first month-and-a-half of it opening, with ambulances called repeatedly for help.

SNP quango bosses net £1k a DAY for part-time work while John Swinney bemoans struggling public finances Drug Alerts and Response (Radar) report noted that “drug-related harms remained high during the most recent quarter”, adding that there was a “notable rise in suspected drug deaths compared to the previous quarter”.

It went on: “Intelligence indicates Scotland’s drugs markets are likely to be contaminated. Contamination is likely to involve toxic synthetic substances which increase the risk of overdose and death.”

**First Minister John Swinney (centre) and Health Secretary Neil Gray (left) with Dr Saket Priyadarshi during their visit to the Thistle Centre Safer Drugs Consumption Facility in Glasgow.**

Despite this, the Glasgow facility allows users to take in their own drugs and inject it within the premises. They are then given aftercare before being allowed to leave.

Critics highlighted that the SNP Government can’t solely rely on one policy to bring down record drug fatalities.

Scottish Conservative shadow drugs minister Annie Wells, right, said: “These heartbreaking figures are another illustration of the SNP’s abject failure to get a grip on the drug-death epidemic that has spiralled out of control on their watch.

“Ministers are pinning all their hopes on drug-consumption rooms as the solution to this national emergency, but these stats show that suspected fatalities are on the rise since The Thistle opened. The SNP should finally come off the fence and back the game-changing Right to Recovery Bill, which would enshrine in law the right of every Scot to receive the potentially life-saving treatment they need, including residential rehab.”

Meanwhile, responding to the report which shows there were 251 suspected drug deaths between December 2024 and February 2025, an increase of 17% from the previous quarter, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP., left, said: “Scotland’s drug deaths emergency is our national tragedy. This government should be doing everything possible to stop people dying.

“As a former youth worker with a charity that focused on parental substance use, I was pleased to secure support for a new facility for mothers and their babies born addicted to drugs. That’s key to getting people on the right path, but there is still a mountain to climb.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would give our country the world-class drug services it deserves. From rolling out a nationwide network of safer consumption rooms to new drug checking facilities, it’s time ministers listened to those plans.”

Labour’s Drugs spokesperson, the Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie,right, said: “These figures show there is no room for complacency when it comes to Scotland’s drugs death crisis.

“Scottish Labour welcomes the safe consumption room pilot, but this is not a substitute for a co-ordinated effort to stop the supply of drugs by criminal gangs who have no thought for the tragedies they unleash.

“The SNP government must work with Police Scotland, local authorities and health boards to ensure that those making money out of this misery are held to account while their victims have the best possible chance of recovery.”