Staff member wants to set up mobile van to help drug addicts
Waverley Care has confirmed its backing for drug consumption rooms after a staff member was dismissed over plans to set up his own.
Glasgow outreach worker Peter Krykant plans to create a mobile unit in his spare time to help addicts inject drugs in a safe environment.
However as these so-called consumption rooms remain illegal, the care worker faces prosecution if he goes ahead with the idea.
Krykant initially started a crowdfunding campaign to finance the move but this was taken down as it is, in effect, a criminal enterprise.
A spokesman for Waverley Care said: “We believe strongly that treating drug use as a criminal justice issue has been detrimental to efforts to tackle drug related harm, including the ongoing HIV outbreak affecting people in Glasgow.
“We have actively campaigned for a public health approach to drugs policy, including provision for drug consumption rooms, and sympathise with the frustration that many people feel about the slow rate of change.
“While we continue to support reform of drugs policy, we recognise that we must also act within the existing legal framework to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our service users and staff.
“When we discussed these issues with Mr Krykant, and he made clear his intention to proceed with his plan, both parties mutually agreed that it would be best to go our separate ways.
The spokesman added: “We are disappointed that the current political stalemate has led to this position, and once again call on the UK and Scottish Governments to come together to explore ways to implement an evidence-based, public health approach to drug-related harm.”
Despite Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Parliament supporting the opening of a consumption room pilot scheme in Glasgow, the Misuse of Drugs Act would need to be altered to enable such a facility to operate legally.
Glasgow had plans for a special facility to allow users to take their own drugs under medical supervision backed by the Scottish government. However Westminster won’t allow the pilot to take place.
Scotland accounts for more than a quarter of UK drug deaths, which was far higher than its share of the population. Latest figures showed an average of more than three people a day dying of drug overdoses in Scotland.
Krykant said: “I’m sad that it has come to this but my employers have told me they can’t continue with my employment if I run the
van, as there is not legal framework to accommodate what I hope to do.
“I had hoped they would go the other way and offer encouragement but I understand their decision and I accepted it so there was a mutual aspect to it.
"This will put some pressure on my family but I am committed to getting this van on the road to help people who are crying out for help.”
