Drugs campaigner Peter Krykant praised as a 'lifesaver' as he is laid to rest
Drugs campaigner Peter Krykant was praised as a 'lifesaver' as he was laid to rest yesterday.
The dad of two, whose drugs consumption van in Glasgow made headlines around the world, had battled his own addiction issues and suffered relapses before his sudden death.
Krykant, 58, set out to force a change in the way addicts are treated in Scotland and the rest of the UK, personally financing a mobile service to allow people to inject drugs safely.
His efforts are recognised to have played a huge part in liberalising drugs policy in Scotland, where greater emphasis is now placed on the health of those in addiction.
After his funeral at Falkirk Crematorium, which was attended by several prominent politicians and drugs policy activists, Krykant was praised by MSP Paul Sweeney, who had helped staff the mobile drug service prior to be elected to his current seat.
Sweeney said: 'Peter's death is a great tragedy to all those who knew and loved him. He undoubtedly saved lives and his legacy is evident.'
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Celebrant John Fox told gathered family and friends: 'The tragedy is that Peter cared so much about the cause of safe consumption and harm reduction to improve the lives and experiences of people who use drugs.
"Yet he was not able to address his own mental and physical health and to find his way out of addiction and back to the safe stability of his loving family and friends.'
Krykant's crusade, which defied UK law, operated in full sight of police in Glasgow for 10 months after he set it up in 2020. A state-backed safe consumption centre has since been established in Glasgow.
He converted an ambulance for addicts to use in Glasgow and discussed the service in a meeting with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
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