SAFER drug consumption rooms are not a “silver bullet” in tackling Scotland’s drug death crisis, MPs have warned.

Britain’s first such facility — The Thistle — opened in Glasgow in January as part of a three-year pilot, sparking calls for similar efforts to provide a safe and hygienic environment for taking illegal substances such as heroin and cocaine under medical supervision in other drug hotspots, such as Edinburgh and Dundee.

In a new report today, the Scottish affairs select committee has called for the Westminster government to consider changes to the law to enable a wider rollout should Glasgow’s pilot be successful.

Committee chair woman Patricia Ferguson said: “This is the most pressing public health issue facing the nation and things need to change urgently to stop more people dying.

“The Thistle could be one way of helping Scotland do this.

“However, we also recognise that The Thistle is not a silver bullet.

“Our report emphasises that this pilot shouldn’t come at the cost of other recovery services — rather, they should operate in tandem to offer as much help as possible to people with problem drug use.”