Glasgow drug consumption room's lack of smoking space 'acting as barrier'

The inability to provide a smoking space at Glasgow’s drug consumption room is “acting as a barrier” to reducing harm, the city’s addictions chief has said.

Cllr Allan Casey, SNP, believes an inhalation room at the Thistle, a three-year pilot facility which offers a supervised area for injecting drugs, wouldn’t just be “an added bonus”.

“I think it’s absolutely essential,” he said. “That’s what the evidence is showing us just now, drug trends are changing.”

His comments came as Glasgow’s integration joint board, which directs the health and social care partnership (HSCP), agreed to create a business case for an inhalation room at the facility.

Since the Thistle opened in January, cocaine has been reported as 67% of substances injected — and health chiefs say there is “very good evidenc