Drugs activist Peter Krykant was once charged by police for running a safe drug consumption room.
But this week – 12 months later – he and his son met the Queen while attending the official opening of the Scottish Parliament.
The former heroin user turned campaigner set up and ran the UK’s first safe injecting facility in a bid to stop drug users dying on the streets.
The dad who lives in Falkirk was delighted to be there as a guest of the new Central Scotland Green MSP, Gillian Mackay.
It’s been quite a journey, as he tweeted on the day: “From a deprived council estate. Drug dependent at 12-years-old. Rough sleeping street drug user by 19 years old. Last October charged under Misuse of Drugs Act for running a safe consumption site. This October I met the QUEEN, the actual Queen.”
Ms Mackay chose him to be her guest as one of the ‘local champions’ that each MSP invites to enjoy the official ceremony, which had been delayed because of the pandemic.
She said: “Peter is doing amazing work with the overdose prevention service and raised important drug issues during the election.
“It was great to meet him and his son Ciaran who I believe really enjoyed his visit.”
For Mr Krykant, the chance to introduce his 10-year-old son to Scotland’s top politicians was very special.
He said: “It was a fantastic day and it was nice to be acknowledged for the work I had done introducing Scotland and the UK’s first safe injection facility.
“The best part of the day for me was being able to take my son along – he had a fantastic day and he got to meet all the leaders of the political parties and lots of MSPs – and I got to meet the Queen.”
Peter admits that while meeting even the most senior politicians no longer phases him, he did feel slightly nervous waiting to greet Her Majesty.
“It was a little bit intimidating but also a massive honour to go along and be part of the day,” he said.
What’s important though, he says, is that his invitation showed how the Scottish Government is beginning to treat drug dependency as a health issue.
And he believes it is now looking seriously at how it can introduce interventions such as safe consumption rooms – despite UK laws that show no signs of changing.
It’s a message he will continue to deliver to any politician willing to listen and while progress has been slow, he has seen signs of common ground – not just with the SNP and Greens but also Labour and the Lib Dems.
For Mr Krykant, it’s time for all of the political parties to look at how to take drugs out of the hands of criminal gangs and allow treatment to be given where and when it is needed.
He hopes his actions have shown that safe injection facilities can be used here legally and he will continue to have conversations with politicians, including Nicola Sturgeon.
However, he may have a bit of competition.
Son Ciaran got a high-five from the First Minister when he told her: “I think there are some benefits to being in the UK but Scotland is big enough to stand on its own two feet.”
It was also a special day for Grangemouth born and bred Gillian Mackay, who was elected as a the Green’s first Central Scotland list MSP in May this year.
She said: “It was a lovely day at the official opening of the Scottish Parliament and I was really pleased to have my dad alongside me.”
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