THE Scottish Tory leader has admitted there is “very compelling” evidence to allow drug consumption rooms to operate – but still doesn’t think they’re the “right approach”.

Scotland’s drug death rate is now the highest in Europe, and nearly four times that of the UK overall. Campaigners, and the Scottish Government, have long called for safe consumption spaces to be introduced to allow users to legally take substances under medical supervision as a way to reduce overdoses.

Many countries have seen drug-related deaths decrease after opening consumption rooms and evidence showing their benefit is widespread.

READ MORE: Safe consumption rooms: Former Swiss president joins Ronnie Cowan's policy push

However, the UK Government has repeatedly rejected the idea. Boris Johnson last year said he did not “want to do anything that would encourage the consumption of more drugs”, but added that he would continue looking at the concept.

Holyrood recently unanimously agreed that Scotland’s drug deaths are a public health emergency, while a Scottish Labour amendment calling for public health interventions like safe consumption facilities was agreed by 113 votes to one.

Despite this, Douglas Ross remains unconvinced. During an interview with ITV News today, he was asked why.

“Because I don’t think it’s right that we should still be allowing people and having people taking illegal substances,” he replied. The reporter then asked if by extension Ross opposes clean needle exchanges.

“No,” he said. “I just believe with drug consumption rooms and safe consumption rooms, it’s not the right approach. But I’m always going to look at it … many people are passionate about drug consumption rooms, I’m still going to look at it, I’m still going to look at the evidence …”

Asked why he hadn’t looked at the evidence before today, Ross said: “I have. And we’ve discussed it at the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. The evidence is very compelling in favour of them but I don’t think that’s the right approach.”

“You don’t think it’s right, so people will continue dying?” asked the reporter.

“It’s not my decision. It’s a decision for the Scottish Government,” Ross insisted. He denied the position was an instruction from Tory bosses at Westminster.

READ MORE: Keir Starmer disappoints drugs activists with claim about safe consumption rooms

The Scottish Tory leader reiterated his policy call, which is to focus on funding for rehabilitation and provide a legal right for rehab for those in need.

The party's manifesto states: "We would ask the Drugs Death Taskforce to publish a comprehensive review into the provision of drug treatment and recovery services before the end of the year. Our focus would be ensuring rehab is available to everyone who needs it when they need it, prioritising abstinence-based programmes and improving retention rates."

Peter Krykant, who runs a mobile safe consumption facility in Glasgow, criticised the Tory approach. He accused Ross and his party of refusing to acknowledge an "internationally recognised way to reduce harm".

"For 50 years we have tried the current approach and across the UK on average 16 people are dying daily, it does not need to be this way," he told The National.

The National:

"Cities across the world now benefit from drug consumption rooms, reducing discarded equipment, reducing police time, reducing ambulance callouts and benefiting society as a whole.

"Douglas Ross has been supporting more residential rehabilitation, I too support this however I would remind Mr Ross people cant recover if they are dead."

Krykant pointed to the work his mobile van has been doing over the last year, saying they have already saved six lives.

"The SNP take blame for many deaths due to the unnecessary cuts to drug support services but while the UK Government fail to reform or devolve the 1971 Act only so much can be done to bring about real change for future generations," he added.

Meanwhile across the campaign other parties take a different stance on consumption rooms from the Tories.

The SNP manifesto pledges to “explore every legal avenue” in an attempt to establish safe consumption spaces, and invest £250 million over the next parliament to support “community-based” interventions.

The LibDems say they will take “radical steps” within the legal system to help establish safe consumption facilities, with a focus on “compassion and health treatment” over prosecution.

The Scottish Greens, too, support the introduction of safe consumption facilities alongside a focus on rehabilitation.

Scottish Labour’s manifesto is yet to be published, but the party does back the implementation of safe consumption spaces. However, on a visit to Scotland last month Labour leader Keir Starmer said they are not a “long-term solution” to the drugs crisis.