Plans to set up a drug checking service to test for purity and strength in Glasgow are underway.

Academics in Glasgow will be working with a team at Stirling University, into how a checking service can be developed for cities in Scotland.

People would take samples of drugs to the service to be tested and they are told how potent and how pure the drugs are.

READ MORE:People tell stories of those lost to drug deaths in Glasgow

The aim is to reduce the risk of overdose, if people are more aware of what they are taking.

Drug checking is already used in Australia, Canada and some other European countries.

The research is looking at how drug checking could be delivered in Scotland, initially in the three cities of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. 

The team will carry out interviews with people with experience of drug use, family members of those who use drugs, and professionals, including NHS staff, police, and third sector organisations, to build a picture of what the service would need to be effective.

The UK Home Office will need to license any services in Scotland and applications for these licenses will be submitted as part of the project.

READ MORE: Drug deaths hit shocking new record in Glasgow and Scotland

Professor Tessa Parkes of Stirling University is leading the project.

She said: “Sadly Scotland has some of the highest drug related death figures globally, with rates sharply increasing in recent years. Drug checking could be an important response by reducing the risk of harms, including drug-related deaths, for people who use drugs and associated harms caused to families, communities and wider society.

“Drug checking can also contribute to public health surveillance of drug markets in local areas and at a national level which can feed into Scotland’s wider public health surveillance work on drugs and drugs harms.”

The latest figures, released last week showed Glasgow had a record number of drug deaths in 2020, with 291 people losing their lives in a drug related death.

Many had taken non prescription street valium, illegally manufactured benzodiazepines, whose strength is unknown.

in 218 of the 291 deaths in Glasgow street benzodiazepines were present.

Jackie Kerr, Chair of Glasgow’s Alcohol and Drug Partnership, said: “Innovative new approaches to addiction are required to tackle tragic drugs deaths and other associated harms which devastate families and communities across Scotland.

“We welcome the funding for this project from the Scottish Drugs Deaths Taskforce and look forward to working with the University of Stirling as they conduct this important research.”

Angela Constance, minister for drug policy, said: “The deaths caused by street benzodiazepines, and the lack of understanding around what people are taking, is a growing concern and I am determined that we introduce drug checking facilities in Scotland.

"I have been in contact with the UK Minister for Policing to discuss what measures we can take to facilitate this.”