by Martin Murray

In the December 2023 issue of Open House, I discussed the ethical controversy around the provision of medically supervised injecting facilities for people who inject illegal drugs. I concluded my article with a call to the Scottish bishops to support the establishment of such a facility in Scotland. Since then, I have not seen or heard any comment from any of the Scottish bishops either for or against the provision of these facilities.

However, there have been developments both here in Scotland and in Ireland. The Thistle, the first medically supervised injecting facility in Scotland opened up in January 2025 on a trial basis, initially for three years.

The Thistle is in Hunter St. near the Barras, just to the east of Glasgow city centre. This area was chosen because there was already a serious problem with public injecting and overdoses in this part of town.

Martin Murray is guest editor of this edition of Open House

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Image: 'Injecting heroin'  Wikimedia Commons Licence