Europe’s drug death capital – Scotland – is opening an officially sanctioned  “safe space” for users to consume illegal drugs in the presence of trained healthcare professionals.

The idea is to reduce the serious number of fatalities that plague Scotland, which beats its EU counterparts by a glaring high number.

Scotland’s government has backed this consumption room, despite strict British drug laws that constitute the possession of many drugs a criminal offence.

The €2.53 million facility will begin recruiting trained healthcare staff in 2024, and offer a hygienic space to take the drugs, to promote harm reduction and avoid overdoses.

Officials have stressed that the centre will not promote drug use, but will save lives, as seen in evidence shown in more than a hundred similar facilities worldwide, including in Germany and Netherlands.

Scotland currently has 248 drug deaths per million – far above the next highest rates – with the UK at 88 per million, Finland at 79 per million, and Ireland at 73 per million, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addictions.

The crisis is a soup of complex reasons, but long-term issues linked to social marginalisation and poverty are linked to major substance abuse.

Many drug deaths are related to long-term abuse of injected substances and not occasional users.

There is also a concerning amount of drug deaths linked to abuse of benzodiazepines, depressants that induce drowsiness and hypnosis. The drugs were reported in 73% of drug deaths in 2020, attributing, among other things, to the pleasurable effects, affordability and ease of procuring.

Other countries, including Malta, have in recent years eased their harsh anti-drug laws in favour of public health laws. However, Scotland cannot change its strict drug laws without London, which has taken on stricter policies in recent years.

Scotland’s government has backed setting up the consumption room, even as British drug law makes the mere possession of many drugs a criminal offence.

Should Malta implement the same?