Evidence and analysis on impact of drugs consumption room on drug deaths: FOI release

Information requested

1. Could you supply any internal analysis or analysis seen by the Scottish Government on the impact of the drugs consumption room on drug deaths, from the last six months?

2. Neil Gray said on October 27 that the drugs consumption room has "demonstrably" saved lives - could you provide the evidence to back up this statement?

Response

In respect to the first part of your request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government does not hold any completed internal analysis specifically quantifying the impact of The Thistle on drug-related deaths over the last six months. At this early stage, attributing changes in drug-related deaths directly to a single intervention is complex and requires longer-term data and independent evaluation.

However, emerging operational data from the Thistle shows that medical emergencies, including overdoses, have occurred within the facility and have been successfully managed on site by clinical staff, with no fatalities recorded. This data informs ongoing monitoring. An independent evaluation, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and led by a research consortium including Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Glasgow, is underway to assess the long-term impacts on health harms and wider outcomes. This evaluation is due to complete in September 2029.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

In respect to the second part of your request, Mr Neil Gray’s statement was informed by operational data and clinical interventions from The Thistle.

The facility recorded 93 medical emergencies in its first year (January 2025–January 2026), all successfully managed without fatalities. The most recent data (to May 2026) reports 171 medical emergencies in total, again with no deaths recorded. These incidents included overdose situations which required interventions such as naloxone and oxygen administration, in situations where there was a clear risk to life. Therefore, the evidence underpinning this statement is drawn from published service data and the professional assessments of on-site clinical staff responding to these emergencies.

While it is not possible to precisely quantify lives saved, the successful management of these high‑risk incidents, underpins the statement.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is reasonably accessible to you. However, relevant data can be accessed here:
Thistle Service Data | Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.