Scotland, which has the highest rate of recorded drugs deaths in Europe, is opening a new facility for users to inject illegal drugs under medical supervision.

In their largest city, Scots try a new remedy to bring down rising overdose death rates far higher than British and European averages

John Swinney visited The Thistle drug consumption room in Glasgow, set to open on Monday as the UK's first facility allowing drug use without arrest, aiming to provide support and reduce virus risks.

The UK’s first safer drugs consumption room will open in Scotland in an effort to tackle the country’s major drugs problem. The Thistle Centre, in Glasgow’s east end, will allow addicts to take drugs – including heroin – under supervision in a clean and hygienic environment,