Will a Boris Johnson government introduce drug consumption rooms?

On Wednesday, January 8, Edinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard stood up during Prime Minister’s Questions to ask Boris Johnson if he would consider ‘a change in the law to allow vulnerable addicts to consume substances in secure facilities under medical supervision.’ 

For those not aware of such facilities, Sheppard is referencing the highly sought-after piloting of a supervised drug consumption facility (SDCF). 

Supervised drug consumption facilities are places where illicit drugs can be used under the supervision of trained staff, who can intervene in the event of an overdose, and are typically used by people who inject drugs. 

READ MORE:  Charities want consumption room for drug users in Glasgow

The evidence has shown that the facilities reduce drug-related litter, connect users with health care professionals, save lives (no one has ever died in a SDCF) and reduce the spread of blood borne diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis. 

The facilitation of an SDCF has been the subject of much controversy, with Scotland long pushing for the piloting of one to no avail. 

It was much to the surprise of some tuning in, therefore, that the question was not dismissed out of hand by Johnson. 

Instead, he pointed to an upcoming drug summit, due to be held in Scotland later this month. 

Few details about this summit have been revealed since then.

What we do know is that it will be held in Glasgow on February 27, it will be chaired by the relevant minister Kit Malthouse, and that Professor Dame Carole Black, who is carrying out an independent review of drugs for the government, will be presenting her findings.

It is not just the public, but the ruling party of Scotland and Glasgow Council who also seem to be in the dark about plans for the summit, with Holyrood Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick recently stating in an article published in The National that he is ‘very surprised that the UK Government announced a summit in Glasgow without any consultation with the Scottish Government and Glasgow.’

With relations between Westminster and Holyrood at a record low, and the ‘yes’ vote once again on the rise, it seems the communication channels between the two government hubs have broken down. 

READ MORE: Westminster ‘standing in the way of saving lives’ on Glasgow safe drug consumption room

Pessimists might suggest that this indicates Scotland is no closer to the devolved drug powers it has long been seeking, which would allow for alternative policy approaches, such as a SDCF pilot in Glasgow. 

A recent UK government statement confirmed that it currently has no plans to introduce SDCFs. 

However, a few indicators suggest that this position could soon change. 

The same statement goes on to say that “illegal drugs devastate lives and communities and those who sell drugs will face the full consequences of the law”. 

The emphasis on the ‘selling’ of drugs implies that the government no longer sees the prosecution of drug users as a priority and will instead be going after the dealers. 

This approach could chime well with the public, with drug-related deaths at an all time high in Scotland.

 A supervised consumption facility would allow the Tories to be ‘tough on crime’ by pursuing drug dealers, but sympathetic to those in the throes of homelessness and addiction.

Meanwhile, the drugs summit provides an opportunity for the Conservative government to better understand and respond effectively to the Scottish perspective and experience, demonstrating that the country’s needs can be met within the union. Scotland has experienced record-high levels of drug-related deaths, with Glasgow city centre at the heart of it. 

From a policy perspective too, the move would be feasible. 

The political climate is ripe for such an announcement given the shocking levels of drug-related deaths.  

In addition, Johnson is barely two months into a five-year term with a huge majority so he can afford to adopt bold policy positions. 

The practicalities too should not pose many issues. 

Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership has been preparing for the introduction of a SDCF since 2015 and the city is primed for implementation. 

With the summit taking place in a city renowned for anti-Tory sentiment and one of the epicentres of the current drug death crisis, it would be fitting for Glasgow to play host to the summit which could engineer the change of policy that the city has long been crying out for. 

At a time when the opposition party has lost all but one seat in Scotland, surely the strategy for the Tories must be to capitalise on the low hanging fruit and facilitate the piloting of live-saving safer drug consumption facilities? 

Ant Lehane is Communications Officer of drug policy organisation Volteface. Tweets @antlehane