The Herald

Applicatio­n made to UK Government for drug testing centre in Aberdeen

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AN applicatio­n has been made to the UK government to open a drug testing facility in Aberdeen.

Support service Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA) has submitted the Home Office licence applicatio­n for the service, planned to be part of a Scottish drug-checking project pilot scheme also involving Glasgow and Dundee.

The project aims to reduce harm by testing illegal substances and potentiall­y reducing overdoses.

If the applicatio­n is passed, drug checks will be available for people aged over 18 and will be targeted at those who say they are dependent on or experience significan­t harm from drugs.

Support workers would use testing machines to examine the content of illegal drugs, before samples are sent to a national testing laboratory for more in-depth analysis.

Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Christina Mckelvie said: “We are committed to delivering drug-checking facilities which will allow people to get substances tested for content whilst receiving tailored harm reduction advice alongside the results, and will enable services to respond faster to emerging trends.”

The testing centre would run alongside ADA’S Enhanced Injecting Equipment Provision programme which provides sterile needles and syringes to drug users.

People using the drug-checking service would be encouraged to access available support, including treatment or help to stop or cut down drug use.

ADA’S direct access services manager, Simon Pringle, said: “Our main aim is to reduce harm associated with drug use for people at the highest risk of harm, overdose and death.

“Being able to test substances on site will give us an opportunit­y to have a conversati­on with service users about what they’re using and what’s actually in these substances, so they can make more informed choices.”

Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard welcomed the progress with the pilot scheme.

He said: “Greater knowledge about the compositio­n of street drugs will help people using the service better understand the risks.”

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