THE UK Government's 'abhorrent attitude' towards drug addiction and rehabilitation is holding back local and national efforts to better support and treat users, according to Inverclyde's MP.

A Westminster committee has recommended the introduction of a pilot scheme for safe consumption rooms in Scotland, however, the initiative has so far been blocked by the Home Office.

The Home Affairs Committee says the power to bring in the supervised injection facilities should be devolved - but the SNP's Ronnie Cowan has told the Telegraph he is 'not holding my breath' for a positive outcome.

The Inverclyde MP said: "The UK Government is out of step with countries that have introduced DCRs (drug consumption rooms) and have seen the benefits.

"It is not only blocking the opportunity to pilot such a scheme, but also openly threatening to prosecute people that run them.

"This abhorrent attitude reveals its lack of understanding and empathy."

READ MORE: Rate of alcohol-related deaths in Inverclyde is highest in Scotland

Responding to a letter from Mr Cowan regarding a recent ScotGov report on drug policy, Chris Philp MP said the approach from Westminster was clear - preventing drug use in communities.

The minister of state for crime, policing and fire wrote: "The government has no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms and anyone running them would be committing a range of offences including possession of a controlled drug and being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug.

"There is no safe way to take illegal drugs, which devastate lives, ruin families and damage communities."

Recent statistics published by the National Records of Scotland revealed 29 drug-related deaths were recorded in Inverclyde in 2022, with opioids and benzodiazepines being the substances most commonly involved.

The figure marked a sharp rise from the previous year's total of 16, although 279 fewer deaths were recorded nationally than in 2021.

READ MORE: Drug deaths rise in Inverclyde despite drop across Scotland

Mr Cowan, who has long been promoting the growth of hemp and campaigning for the reclassification of the substance, wrote in a column for sister title The National that 'addiction is an illness' that should be treated 'as a health issue rather than a criminal justice one'.

He said: "The emphasis must be on the support and treatment and before we can do that, we need to remove the threat of prosecution for using drugs.

"If people are to step forward and ask for help, then they can’t have the threat of arrest and prosecution hanging over their heads."

Mr Cowan told the Telegraph: "DCRs would be staffed by people trained in the handling of drugs, just as they are in a hospital environment.

"Glasgow had a DCR set up by Peter Krykant, and very sensibly the decision was made not to prosecute him, but Peter ran it at his own risk.

READ MORE: Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan wants mass production of hemp

"We can't expect nurses and doctors to risk their careers, and therefore any DCR that is staffed by trained professionals has to be run within the law and funded by the NHS.

"We can't rely on volunteers to run them.

"We need to step up and legalise DCRs to start saving lives now.

"Glasgow has cross-party support from its council and the Scottish Government and police support for a pilot programme.

"Glasgow is the obvious place to start and if we saw real benefits, as I think we would, then other communities could follow."