Glasgow leads the UK with new approach to drug crisis

Morning readers. There’s only one story in town today. And as much as we loved the cute video of otters play fighting in the River Clyde over the weekend, or the Subway seat that’s been turned into a rather tasteful couch, it’s a far more serious affair. Glasgow’s safe drug consumption room opens today after delays and a ten year struggle to make the space a reality. More on that pioneering facility below. 

We published our piece on Glasgow Survival over the weekend, which speculated on whether one of the city’s weirdest and most celebrated comedy sons was also behind one of the most controversial websites of the 00s. “Wow now there is a blast from the past. I've forgotten all about that site,” said reader Ricky. Peter Walker also posted on Bluesky to say how much he enjoyed it. Gordon Campbell on X, meanwhile, agreed that it was a blast from the past, reminding him of the early days of the internet. Another X user simply commented: “f*cking mad if true”. 

Thanks to those of you who signed up over the past few days — there’s now 7,150 of you reading this, including 375 paid members. Those are two delightful tallies, but we’d love to push the envelope further, round numbers be damned . You can sign up at the link below.  

Now, your Monday briefing.

Your Bell briefing

🪧 The 2025 UK Women’s March, due to hit Glasgow’s streets on 18 January, has been cancelled due to “several factors”, including scheduling clashes and a lack of space. Announcing the news on Instagram, organisers extended “heartfelt gratitude” to Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council, but said they had been unable to find a suitable venue or route for planned static and procession events. The demo had been called to protest increasing rates of violence against women in the UK, a renewed anti-abortion movement in the US, transphobia, and the treatment of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Promotion of the march had said 2025’s instalment was time to "make [...] voices heard" in light of Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency. Its cancellation is in stark contrast to 2017, when thousands of women turned out in the UK to protest Trump’s election to America’s highest office.

❄️ A reminder for those feeling the cold: Glasgow City Council are once again running their ‘Welcome Spaces’ programme to provide warm rooms for those who need it. The Glasgow Times has a full list of venues, which include all Glasgow Life libraries, as well as seven other spots run by private organisations. Those stopping by can also get a free tea or coffee.

🚕 Chicken or egg scenario: what’s responsible for a decline in nightlife footfall in Glasgow? A lack of attractive options or not enough cabs to ferry people around? Ahead of city councillors gathering to discuss lifting a cap on taxis and private hire car vehicles this week, an interesting debate has arisen. Local business leaders claim that a “lack of cars is keeping people away from the city centre” at weekends. But drivers say it’s a drop in customers preventing even currently licensed cabbies from going on the clock, as they are “barely able to make a living”. From a Bell staffer’s vantage point, having graced Sauchiehall Street for two consecutive, misguided weekends already in 2025, it’s going to take a lot more than extra cars to defibrillate the post-pandemic collapse of a joined-up Glasgow nightlife … 

Big story: Glasgow leads the UK with new approach to drug crisis 

Topline: Today’s the day: the UK’s first ever safer drug consumption room is open for business in Glasgow. 

What is it? The facility, dubbed ‘The Thistle’, does what it says on the tin: it offers drug users a safe, enclosed place to inject. And it’s been a long time in the making; an NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde report first recommended the establishment of a state-run drug consumption room in 2016, following a HIV outbreak. 

Why Glasgow? A combination of high drug user rates and political will. It’s estimated around 400-500 people currently publicly inject on Glasgow’s streets every day. To get the Thistle over the line took lobbying of various relevant parties, as Westminster sets drug laws but it’s up to Scotland to enforce them. 

• Scotland’s Lord Advocate had to confirm a policy change, which allows Thistle service users to possess illegal drugs while at the facility, without the threat of prosecution. 
• For their part, the UK government has agreed not to impede the project, although added there’s no plans to set up similar consumption rooms elsewhere. They also don’t want to devolve drug legislation powers to Scotland (shock). 

Where’s it located? In the East End, on the site of the existing Hunter Street Health and Care Centre. Ahead of the Thistle’s opening, media and local politicians alike were given tours of the facility, which takes its inspiration from similar locations across the globe. Posting on social media, Green councillor Holly Bruce said it will “save lives” and “humanises Scotland’s drug crisis and centres it in a place of wellbeing and trust”. There’s rules for the new centre though, of course.

• Service users have to be previously registered before they can use the Thistle. You can’t just turn up with drugs unannounced. 
• There’s eight separate booths for injections, monitored by nurses. 
• There’s also access to a clothing bank, showers, kitchen and various consultation rooms. 

What’s the outlook? No one really knows. Speaking to the BBC, service manager Lynn McDonald said staff didn’t even yet have a grasp on how many people would be using the Thistle. "Some services similar in size to this in other countries are seeing up to 200 people a day but it's really difficult to predict," she told the outlet. 

"You will have some people who will maybe come in once a day, you'll have some people who maybe come in twice a day. You'll maybe have some people who come in 10 times a day depending on their drug use pattern."

In the US, multiple studies have shown a positive outcome from safer drug injection sites. One review of research reported that state-backed consumption rooms helped users access health services and, ultimately, stop injecting. Meanwhile, local residents reported less public drug use as a result. 

Bottom line: Glasgow has one of the highest drug death rates in Scotland. Campaign groups have long been calling for innovative and more empathetic approaches to tackling the problem. After 10 years of delays, the Thistle could prove groundbreaking for a wider UK approach to intravenous drug use, whatever the official Westminster line. All eyes are now on Hunter Street. 

Spot of the week - Offshore Coffee, Gibson Street

Too many cafes these days don’t understand the power of a good sofa. Not the West End’s Offshore Coffee, perhaps one of the cosiest places to grab a flat white in the city. No spindly chairs or uninviting beige stools to be seen; at Offshore you can expect back support and a warm welcome. Downstairs they hold frequent exhibitions, which is a good chance to see local art you won’t spot in the nearby Kelvingrove Gallery. Drop by on a Sunday afternoon with a good read and get comfy. —Moya.

Media picks 

Lunch with the FM: Nicola Sturgeon was the FT’s lunch guest this weekend, sitting down with Henry Mance for haggis (you really couldn’t write it… no wait sorry, you really could). Looming large over the interview was her political legacy, particularly in relation to the ongoing police investigation, Operation Branchform (which also concerns her husband Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the Scottish National Party). Sturgeon comes across well: affable, approachable and open — even if unwilling to admit mistakes. Mance reflects on her tenure, one in which she won eight elections on the bounce, as a time when support for politicians “was based on granite, not sand”. Just after 11am this morning, Sturgeon kicked the piece into the long grass, announcing on Instagram that she and Peter Murrell, her husband of 15 years, were divorcing, "having been separated for some time".

What’s new at PQ? Change is afoot at Pacific Quay. BBC Scotland have retired nightly news show The Nine and replaced it with a shorter Reporting Scotland News at 7. Scotsman columnist Martyn McLaughlin didn’t hold back in his review, describing it as a “muddled, atrophied offering” and lamenting the lack of ambition — you can decide whether his criticism was unduly harsh or not. Another key element to the current affairs shake up is Scotcast, a current affairs podcast presented by Martin Geissler, which will also go out on TV and radio. Launching today at 5pm, it promises to take a “detailed look at a story of real significance in Scotland”. It’s been in development for some time, so we’re eager to hear the results. 

Exit, stage left: Sticking with Auntie Beeb for a moment, 6 Music shone a Scene Spotlight on Maxwell Street’s Exit club last week, interviewing its founders and discussing its place in the city’s DIY music scene. Running a nightclub sounds bumpy at the best of times, and given Exit’s motto is “Not here forever”, we feel it would be prudent to frequent the places and spaces you wish to exist not only now, but in the future too. You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone, and aw that. 

Things to do 

Tuesday

🎭 Consider yourself … a night at the theatre, as a new production of Annie hits Glasgow. Tickets from £21.73 at King’s Theatre.

Wednesday

🎬 The annual Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Emergence Festival kicks off, with the latest cohort of graduating artists showcasing their work at the still partially closed CCA. Short films and live performances are on offer, as is a 20% discount if you book to see two shows or more. With tickets from £5, sounds like a good deal to us.

Thursday

🎨 The Glasgow School of Art’s exhibition marking a centenary of artist Bet Low’s birth (technically she was born in 1924, but only just) is in full swing until early Feb. Free entry to GSA’s Reid Gallery; details here.

Friday 

🎶 Feeling the January blues? Turn emotion into concert going. American outfit The Fabulous Thunderbirds hit QMU as part of this month’s Blues Festival. Tickets from £33. 

Saturday 

🪕 Winter festival Celtic Connections is back in town and its weekend line up is a doozy. With events happening from 11am-11pm, including trad tours and grand orchestras, there’s literally something to fill any free slot. Details here.