Sunak: Drug consumption rooms is not going to work to sort out habit
The metropolis council backed the creation of the ability this week after years of authorized wrangling was resolved by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC earlier this month.
Scotland’s high regulation officer mentioned it might not be “in the public interest” to prosecute folks utilizing such a service – which permits those that inject medicine to take action beneath medical supervision, in addition to providing care that would support them of their restoration from habit.
Speaking to STV News in a pre-Conservative convention interview on Thursday, the Prime Minister backed feedback made beforehand by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack that the UK Government wouldn’t search to dam the ability from opening.
Misnaming the Lord Advocate, the Prime Minister mentioned: “No, that’s exactly as I said, we respect the independence of the advocate general in Scotland whilst… we disagree with the drug consumption rooms elsewhere because we think they condone illegal drug use, and that’s not something that we think is right.”
Asked if he believes such a measure will assist the issue of drug habit, Mr Sunak mentioned: “We don’t, and we think they condone illegal use and that’s what they run the risk of doing.”
Scotland’s drug and alcohol coverage minister Elena Whitham mentioned: “We know that safer drug consumption facilities are not a silver bullet, but evidence from more than 100 facilities worldwide show that they work – and I hope that the Prime Minister remains open to listening to that evidence from both experts and campaigners.
“While the service would still be limited to some extent, due to the Misuse of Drugs Act reserved to Westminster, we are confident it will save lives.
“Through our £250 million national mission, we are doing everything within our powers to tackle drug deaths in Scotland. However, the number of deaths is still too high and we must use every means at our disposal as we face future challenges, including the increasing threat from synthetic opioids.”