More than 130 people used the UK’s first drug consumption clinic in the facility’s first week.
The Safer Drugs Consumption Facility in Glasgow opened on 13 January, letting people take substances under supervision.
Cllr Allan Casey, the city convener for addiction services, said it had been an “intense first week” for staff, with 131 users.
There were no medical emergencies resulting from drug use within the facility – known as the Thistle – in the first seven days.
It is hoped that the clinic can reduce fatal and non-fatal overdoses by providing a safe and clean place for people to use drugs, while also giving people further support to cope with their addiction.
As well as safer injecting facilities, users were provided with wound care, clean injecting equipment and naloxone as required.
A spokesperson for the facility said some users had already engaged with housing and drug treatment support.
Cllr Casey added that the clinic had made a “promising start” since opening.
He added: “It’s been an intense first week for the team as all eyes are on Glasgow.
“I am delighted to hear people are making use of all the facilities available at the Thistle.
“We know this is not a silver bullet – but having a facility that is safe, hygienic and medically supervised will go a long way towards reducing drug-related overdoses, injection-related wounds and infections, and the negative impact that injecting outdoors has on local communities.”
The facility was first proposed for Glasgow in 2016 but years of debate between the Scottish and UK governments than ensued.
The facility was finally approved in the autumn of 2023, with running costs expected to reach nearly £7m over the next three years.
It is situated in the city’s Hunter Street, next to a clinic where 23 long-term drug users are currently prescribed pharmaceutical heroin.
A previous report by the NHS estimated approximately 400 to 500 people” used drugs publicly in the city centre on a regular basis, while Scotland has consistently had the highest number of drug death overdoses in Europe.
The UK government said in 2023 it did not intend to open any clinics elsewhere, but would not interfere in the Glasgow plan.
