Scotland must have a "grown-up debate" in regards to the introduction of drug consumption rooms, a Labour MSP has mentioned.
Paul Sweeney plans to deliver ahead a member's Invoice at Holyrood that might permit for such services - often known as overdose prevention centres (OPCs) - to be arrange north of the border.
The identical laws would additionally abolish the prevailing Scottish Medication Dying Taskforce, with Mr Sweeney insisting the organisation "not instructions the arrogance of the general public or these working within the sector".
As a substitute, he proposes an impartial Scottish Drug Dying Council be set as much as deal with the medicine loss of life disaster that he mentioned is "at present gripping Scotland".
He spoke out as he launched a session on his proposed Drug Dying Prevention (Scotland) Invoice.
Mr Sweeney's proposals would create a authorized foundation for establishing OPCs in Scotland, with a licensing framework set as much as govern and regulate such centres.
It comes after the MSP volunteered at an unofficial facility, which is operated by campaigner, Peter Krykant.
And whereas he pressured reversing Scotland's drug loss of life toll would require a "a multi-faceted public well being strategy", Mr Sweeney insisted: "Overdose prevention centres should be a part of that."
He acknowledged: "They don't seem to be a silver bullet, nobody strategy is, however our ambition right here is implement modifications that can save lives and overdose prevention centres will try this."
Talking about his time volunteering with Mr Krykant, he mentioned: "I noticed overdoses being reversed, lives being saved and individuals who use medicine being handled with dignity and respect, typically for the primary time of their lives.
"We have been warned that we have been breaking the legislation, however not one volunteer was ever charged below the Misuse of Medication Act.
"I'm assured that overdose prevention centres may be established legally, and the diversion from prosecution coverage launched by the Lord Advocate implies that the police have discretion to not arrest individuals who use medicine for being in possession of medicine."
Mr Sweeney mentioned that the present Drug Dying Taskforce "has been mired in current months by resignations as a consequence of perceived Authorities interference" and as such it was "time for a contemporary begin".
The choice Scottish Drug Dying Council he has proposed could be enshrined in legislation, Mr Sweeney mentioned, with "operational independence from Authorities".
He continued: "It might place a far better emphasis on the lived expertise of people that at present use medicine and people with lived expertise of doing so up to now.
"That's vastly vital, and I'm hopeful these steps would restore confidence in its work."
He acknowledged: "The drug loss of life disaster is the largest single problem going through our nation. Each six hours, one in all our fellow residents dies of a preventable drug-related loss of life and we have to do all the things we are able to to resolve that.
"Overdose prevention centres are one device at our disposal, and I stay up for a grown-up, constructive debate about how all of us work collectively to set them up in Scotland."
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