Latest news with #Krykant
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Drugs campaigner Peter Krykant dies, aged 48
A prominent Scottish drugs campaigner who set up a safe consumption bus has died. Peter Krykant, a former heroin addict, became a public figure after he set up an unofficial supervised facility in a van which he took around Glasgow. Krykant often talked about his own battles with addiction, admitting he started taking drugs when he was just 11 and speaking out about a relapse in 2021. Police confirmed the 48-year-old's death was being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. A Police Scotland Sotland spokesperson said: "Around 5.15pm on Monday, 9 June 2025, police attended an address in Graham Avenue, Larbert following a report of a concern for person. "The body of a 48-year-old man was found within. His next of kin has been informed." Mr Krykant started taking drugs when he was 11 and began to inject heroin at the age of 17, but stopped using drugs for 11 years. He went on to open a mobile unit in a converted van with the aim of preventing overdoses and the spread of blood-borne viruses among users in Scotland. He was arrested in 2020 after launching his "safe space" where users could take their own drugs under medical supervision. Charges against him were later dropped. Earlier this year The Thistle, the UK's first and only drug consumption room opened in the East End of Glasgow in an effort to reduce drug deaths. Krykant ran for election as an independent candidate in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, campaigning on drug policy issues. He later said the "cut-throat" world of politics along with the pressure of running the consumption bus caused him to relapse into drug use. 'Fix room' campaigner relapsed after 11 years
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Tributes paid after death of pioneering drugs reformer Peter Krykant
Mr Krykant became a public figure after he set up an unofficial drugs consumption room in 2020 in a converted ambulance in Glasgow city centre. He set up the van, which operated in 2020 and 2021, after crowdfunding and using his own money in an effort to highlight the need for a safe space for drug users to inject. The van was modelled on a similar operation My Krykant, who also battled addiction, visited in Copenhagen and had sterile injecting kits, swabs and Naloxone, as well as a defibrillator. In 2021, he met with then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the possibility of opening an Overdose Prevention Centre (OPC) in Scotland. It is understood Mr Krykant passed away at his home in Larbert. He was 48. READ NEXT: Two drug users an hour attend drug consumption van service in city centre Police were called to a property on Graham Avenue in Larbert at around 5.15pm on Monday, June 9 following a report of concern for a person. The body of 48-year-old man was found inside. The death is currently being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. Officers said his next of kind has been informed. READ NEXT: First Minister to meet with Glasgow safe drug consumption activist Now, tributes have been paid to Mr Krykant who has been described as a "tireless campaigner" and a "one man army". Paul Sweeney MSP said he was "deeply saddened" by his death. In a post shared on X he wrote: "I am deeply saddened at the passing of my friend Peter Krykant. "I don't think Peter often realised the impact he had, but his work did save lives - I saw it with my own eyes. "May he rest in peace." I am deeply saddened at the passing of my friend Peter Krykant. I don't think Peter often realised the impact he had, but his work did save lives - I saw it with my own eyes. May he rest in peace. — Paul Sweeney (@PaulJSweeney) June 11, 2025 Patrick Harvie MSP, Scottish Greens co-leader, said: "We are all deeply saddened to hear of Peter's passing. Everyone from the Scottish Greens is thinking of his family and friends at this extremely difficult time. "Peter was a tireless campaigner for a fairer, more compassionate approach to handling drug misuse and addiction, and his campaigning has left such an important legacy in the UK's first safe consumption room in Glasgow. "His advocacy for drug reform, and of course, his yellow van have no doubt saved countless lives in Scotland." READ NEXT: Consumption room must be the start of real fightback against drug deaths Lawyer Aamer Anwar said in a post on X that he was "privileged" to represent Mr Krykant when he was arrested for setting up his safe consumption van. Charges against him were later dropper. He said: "Peter Krykant was a one man army, with a mission to save lives - I was privileged to represent him when he was arrested after setting up his own safe consumption van. "It was humbling to see him single handedly fight to deliver the first safe consumption room for drugs in the UK. "Since childhood he was driven by demons, but Peter was also a beautiful, kind and courageous man- he leaves behind his two boys whom he loved dearly and family and friends who will be utterly devastated. "I hope with time they can find some comfort in that Peter will be at peace and his name will one day be remembered as a drugs campaigner decades ahead of his time." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 5.15pm on Monday, June 9, police attended an address in Graham Avenue, Larbert following a report of a concern for person. "The body of a 48-year-old man was found within. "His next of kin has been informed. A post mortem examination will be carried out in due course. The death is being treated as unexplained."
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Drug policy reform campaigner Peter Krykant dies aged 48
Mr Fitzpatrick later lost his job after Scotland's drugs deaths soared to 1,264 in 2019. Krykant, who battled his own addiction issues, said his mobile injection room saved lives and argued for similar facilities to be set up to cut Scotland's soaring drug deaths. Peter Krykant in the converted ambulance, which allowed drug users a safe space to inject (Image: Mark F Gibson) It has been reported that he was found dead at home in Falkirk . He faced police charges over the ambulance, but these were later dropped. He said: "We are all deeply saddened to hear of Peter's passing. 'Everyone from the Scottish Greens is thinking of his family and friends at this extremely difficult time. "Peter was a tireless campaigner for a fairer, more compassionate approach to handling drug misuse and addiction, and his campaigning has left such an important legacy in the UK's first safe consumption room in Glasgow. "His advocacy for drug reform, and of course, his yellow van have no doubt saved countless lives in Scotland." Police Scotland have said that no suspicious circumstances surround the death at Krykant's home in Larbert, Falkirk, on Monday this week. Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, who had helped man the mobile service, which was regarded as illegal at the time, said 48-year-old Krykant's efforts had helped make significant changes to Scotland's drugs policy. READ MORE: Mr Sweeney told The Daily Record: 'I'm shocked and saddened to hear of Peter's death. We can't underestimate the contribution he made to the drugs debate in Scotland, which came amid many years of increasing overdose deaths. 'He undoubtedly played a major part in changing policy in a political a system that was very much set in its ways and resistant to the kind of radical change that Peter advocated.' Earlier this year, The Thistle safe drugs consumption facility opened in Glasgow after years of political wrangling between the Scottish and UK governments, allowing those who inject drugs like heroin and cocaine a safe place to do so, with medical professionals on hand should they be needed. The centre has seen 17 overdoses since it opened, according to service manager Lynn Macdonald in March, some of which she believes would have resulted in death had staff not stepped in.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Scottish drug safety activist Peter Krykant dies age 48
The campaigner inspired many to regard addiction as a health issue and paved the way for state-backed safe drug consumption areas. He famously operated from his van in Glasgow's city centre between 2020 and 2021 in a bid to help those with drug addiction. READ MORE: SNP minister responds to 'secret meeting to discuss John Swinney leadership' reports Police Scotland have said that no suspicious circumstances surround the death at his home in Larbert, Falkirk, on Monday, according to the Daily Record. Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, who helped man the mobile service with Krykant, which was regarded as illegal at the time, said the 48-year-old's campaigning helped make significant changes to Scotland's drugs policy. 'I'm shocked and saddened to hear of Peter's death,' he said. 'We can't underestimate the contribution he made to the drugs debate in Scotland, which came amid many years of increasing overdose deaths. 'He undoubtedly played a major part in changing policy in a political a system that was very much set in its ways and resistant to the kind of radical change that Peter advocated. 'The overdose prevention facility in Glasgow, which is now operating successfully, came after many minds were turned by Peter's efforts.' Sweeney added that Krykant's efforts to force the opening of legal drug consumption areas in Scotland brought international recognition. He said: 'I worked alongside Peter on the van, which itself came to be an iconic sign of the changes that were occurring in attitudes in Scotland and the UK as a whole. 'Peter also travelled the world to tell others about his methods to disrupt and bring change. 'He will be very sadly missed.' In 2021, Krykant met then first minister Nicola Sturgeon and held talks about opening an official Drug Consumption Room site. Following several months of running his van in Glasgow's city centre, Krykant donated the facility to the Transform Drug Policy Foundation and its Anyone's Child campaign, which took it on a UK tour. He later took on roles with Cranstoun UK, a drug service provider. Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie MSP described Krykant as a tireless campaigner for a fairer, more compassionate approach to handling drug misuse and addiction. He said: 'We are all deeply saddened to hear of Peter's passing. Everyone from the Scottish Greens is thinking of his family and friends at this extremely difficult time. 'Peter was a tireless campaigner for a fairer, more compassionate approach to handling drug misuse and addiction, and his campaigning has left such an important legacy in the UK's first safe consumption room in Glasgow. 'His advocacy for drug reform, and of course, his yellow van, have no doubt saved countless lives in Scotland.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 5.15pm on Monday, 9 June 2025, police attended an address in Graham Avenue, Larbert following a report of a concern for person. 'The body of a 48-year-old man was found within.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Peter Krykant dies suddenly as tributes paid to pioneering Scots drugs reformer
Krykant, who battled addiction issues, was found dead at home in Falkirk. He inspired many to regard addiction as a health issue and paved the way for state-backed safe drug consumption areas Tributes have been paid to drugs policy reformer Peter Krykant after his sudden death. The campaigner, who battled addiction himself, became a public figure after setting up an unofficial drugs consumption room in a converted ambulance. He famously operated from the van in Glasgow city centre in 2020 and 2021 in a bid to tackle the city's rampant addiction crisis. Police Scotland have said that no suspicious circumstances surround the death at his home in Larbert, Falkirk, on Monday this week. Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, who had helped man the mobile service, which was regarded as illegal at the time, said 48-year-old Krykant's efforts had helped make significant changes to Scotland's drugs policy. Sweeney said: 'I'm shocked and saddened to hear of Peter's death. 'We can't underestimate the contribution he made to the drugs debate in Scotland, which came amid many years of increasing overdose deaths. 'He undoubtedly played a major part in changing policy in a political a system that was very much set in its ways and resistant to the kind of radical change that Peter advocated. 'The overdose prevention facility in Glasgow, which is now operating successfully, came after many minds were turned by Peter's efforts.' Sweeney said Krykant's efforts to force the opening of legal drug consumption areas in Scotland brought international recognition. He said: 'I worked alongside Peter on the van, which itself came to be an iconic sign of the changes that were occurring in attitudes in Scotland and the UK as a whole. 'Peter also travelled the world to tell others about his methods to disrupt and bring change. 'He will be very sadly missed.' Krykant launched his drugs bus after the Daily Record ran a powerful campaign to liberalise drugs laws, which highlighted Scotland's status as the drug deaths capital of Europe. In 2021 he met then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to hold talks on the opening of an official Drug Consumption Room site. After running his van in Glasgow's city centre for several months, Krykant donated the facility to the Transform Drug Policy Foundation and its Anyone's Child campaign, which took it on a UK tour. He later took on roles with Cranstoun UK, a drug service provider. It became public knowledge that Krykant suffered from ongoing personal trauma related to drug taking and suffered relapses in recent years. He had been visiting London in the days before his death but had returned to his flat in Larbert when friends became concerned about his wellbeing. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 5.15pm on Monday, 9 June 2025, police attended an address in Graham Avenue, Larbert following a report of a concern for person. 'The body of a 48-year-old man was found within. 'His next of kin has been informed. A post mortem examination will be carried out in due course. The death is being treated as unexplained.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
