Context
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs highlighted the Government’s safer streets mission in a recent report. Drug-related deaths are at record levels due to synthetic opioids.
Question
As drug-related deaths are now at record levels, particularly because of the increase in synthetic opioids, I believe that we need to look again at supervised drug-consumption facilities, which are an evidence-based intervention that could save lives and public spending. Both the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and the Health and Social Care Committee support the idea. Will the Solicitor General consider facilitating a legal mechanism here, as in Scotland under the Lord Advocate, to enable local health and police authorities that wish to pilot such facilities to establish their efficacy to do so?
Answer from The Solicitor General
It is absolutely right that we ensure that those who fall into drug addiction are able to access adequate support, services and routes to rehabilitation. As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing said to the Scottish Affairs Committee recently, the Government do not have plans to amend the law to permit the introduction of drug-consumption facilities. We are clear, however, that drug deaths are avoidable, and we are committed to supporting more people into recovery so that they can live healthier and longer lives.
Not addressed: Facilitating legal mechanisms for supervised drug-consumption facilities as in Scotland
Was this summary accurate? Tell us
How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)