Drug consumption unit plea by West MSP

PLEA: Lib Dems Jamie Greene calls for Ayrshire to replicate Glasgow's safe drug consumption unit (Image: Jamie Greene MSP)

A West Scotland MSP believes that drug use in North Ayrshire is a “serious problem”, and that a safe drug consumption unit should be introduced.

Liberal Democrat Jamie Greene sees the crisis to be “far worse” than other council areas in the west and hopes the region can follow Glasgow’s successful trial from last year.

Events such as the UK’s first nitazine lab being discovered and rising numbers of overdoses and deaths have put the region under the spotlight for a “drug crisis”.

Greene believes that the necessary services should be in place which can help treat it “more effectively”.

He said: “Addiction can happen to anyone from any background of courser, but we do know that properly resourced and funded healthcare and addiction services can treat it when it does happen.

“Increased economic activity, and the jobs and growth it brings with it, are also key to keeping people health, happy, and away from dangerous drugs which is the best route out of poverty is economic opportunity.”

Drugs such as Fentanyl have been pointed out by MSP Greene to be causing problems, and is pushing the government to raise more awareness.

He added: “A number of dangerous street drugs are the primary causes of drug deaths, so the government does need to look more intensely at how public awareness campaigns can inform people of the risks.”

“If safe consumption rooms, like the Thistle in Glasgow, can be shown to be more effective then further rollout should be considered if it can be proved to stop people dying in our communities.”

Glasgow’s safe drug consumption was opened to the public in The Thistle, located near the city’s Barrowlands, in March 2025.