Falkirk Drugs Campaigner Peter Krykant Dies Suddenly at 48

Peter Krykant, a 48-year-old former heroin addict turned drug policy reformer, has died suddenly at his home in Larbert, Falkirk. Krykant gained public attention for establishing an unofficial safe drug consumption room in a converted ambulance in Glasgow, which provided a medically supervised space for drug users to inject, aiming to reduce overdoses and the spread of blood-borne viruses. His pioneering efforts helped shift attitudes toward addiction as a health issue and paved the way for the opening of the UK's first legal drug consumption facility, The Thistle, in Glasgow. Krykant faced legal challenges over the mobile unit, but charges against him were dropped, and he campaigned for drug policy reform, including running as an independent candidate in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. His work was widely praised by politicians and activists, who credited him with saving lives and significantly influencing Scotland's approach to drug misuse amid a rising overdose death crisis. Police have confirmed no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and tributes highlight his legacy as a tireless advocate for compassionate drug reform.