SHOCKING images have emerged of drug addicts injecting in a wooded area near Glasgow City Centre in a year that has seen deaths spiral to among the world’s highest.

The pictures were taken on August 15 on derelict land near Glasgow Green, that is littered with needles and other drug paraphernalia alongside discarded wooden pallets.

They show two men preparing drugs, thought to be cocaine. One who has no right arm is shown injecting a syringe into his thigh.

Blood and bacterial infections can occur from dirty needles or from repeated injection of a drug, which in the most serious cases can lead to limbs having to be amputated.

Councillor Mhairi Hunter, who leads health policy for the city, said the images “graphically highlighted” why Glasgow is lobbying Westminster for a change in the law which would permit addicts to bring their own ‘street’ heroin to a Safer Drug Consumption Facility (SDCF).

Glasgow Times:

Work is currently underway by the council to build a separate drug treatment centre offering medical-grade heroin, which will be administered under strict medical supervision. It will be sited on Hunter Street, where homeless services are located.

In July, the Evening Times reported how drug deaths in the city have rocketed to an unprecedented level with multiple drug use leading to a sharp rise in fatal overdoses.

Read more: Renewed called for safer drug consumption centre after child is pricked by needle in Maryhill park 

The latest figures show an increase of 45% in drug related deaths, from 192 in 2017, to 280 last year.

Glasgow Times:

The scale of the city’s problem can be seen by comparing with the rise across Scotland which was 27% to 1187 deaths, also a record level.

The figures mean drug related deaths in Glasgow have now trebled since 2010 when 94 people died.

Read more: Drug deaths soar in Glasgow to among world's highest

Glasgow Times:

Councillor Mhairi Hunter said: “Sadly, these shocking images graphically highlight precisely why Glasgow is lobbying Westminster for a change in the law which would allow us to open a Safer Drug Consumption Facility (SDCF).

“Research shows that SDCFs like the one we are proposing, help experts engage with hard-to-reach people who avoid using health services and may inject in public places such as the one highlighted. 

“Such facilities can save lives by reducing the number of accidental overdoses and syringe sharing – cutting the risk of HIV and other blood borne infections. 
“A new facility would also help reduce the number of syringes and needles discarded in public places.”

For advice on what to do if you find a needle discarded in a public place go to www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/19719/Discarded-Needle