This is no silver bullet ..but it will save lives

Health chiefs hope " 2.3m centre can help cut death toll

- By MARK McGIVERN

THE UK's first legally sanctioned drug consumption room will open its doors to addicts on Monday - with the hope it will quickly lead to the roll-out of many more.

After a decade of political wrangling, The Thistle in Glasgow's east end offered the press a sneak peek at the array of services available to those battling addiction.

As Scotland tries to turn around its drug death crisis - we are the worst nation in Europe by far - no one was claiming this NHS facility in Glasgow would bring overnight success.

But planning is under way to bring similar services to places like Dundee.

Opening of The Thistle - which can cater for 35 drug users at any one time - was only made possible after Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain announced no one using the service would be prosecuted for drug possession.

The decision came after a Daily Record campaign for such decriminalisation measures, as part of a broader appeal to treat addiction as a health issue instead of a criminal one.