Following the conclusion of the 2025 plenary meeting, Commissioners Helen Clark and Michel Kazatchkine traveled to Glasgow, Scotland, where they conducted a press visit to The Thistle – the first official drug consumption room in the UK, which opened earlier this year.

The visit was joined by Maree Todd MSP, the recently appointed Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport; Susanne Millar, Chief Executive of the Glasgow City Council; Councillor Allan Casey, City Convener for Workforce and Homelessness and Addiction Services of the Glasgow City Council; Dr. Saket Priyadarshi, Associate Medical Director of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Alcohol and Drug Services; and Pat Togher, Chief Officer of the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership. Participants were guided through the vital, life-saving services offered at The Thistle by Service Manager Lynn Macdonald, and also had the opportunity to speak directly with service users.

Since its opening, the Thistle has had a significant impact on preventing overdoses and saving lives. In its first six months of operation, medical staff have successfully responded to 39 medical episodes. The facility has served 348 people and supervised more than 3,000 injecting episodes.