Drugs minister said Glasgow's drug consumption room works
She said, however, there is no evidence to back up claims of increased crime, littering and sightings of discarded needles in Glasgow's east end, where the facility is based.
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The minister toured The Thistle and said she believes the facility will "make a difference" to Scotland's high rate of drug deaths, and that it has already saved lives and helped catch contaminated drugs that could spread across the UK.
Asked if she is concerned about some residents reporting a rise in crime and discarded needles since its opening, she said: "Of course it worries us.
"The safe consumption drug facility was sited here because it was already an area where these challenges occurred.
"So there was lots of street usage and lots of littering challenges.
"In time, I would expect that the challenges faced by the community will reduce as the confidence in this facility increases."
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Asked if she accepts crime and needle sightings have gone up, she added: "I'm not sure the statistics bear that out.
"I think it's really important that we're not cloth-eared to the concerns that the local community are raising.
"It is causing them concern. They think there has been an increase in crime, and they think there has been an increase in littering.
"We need to pay attention to that, and we need to reassure them on that front. Whether that is actually what has happened, or whether the increased focus is what is making people worried about that, I'm not sure."
She added it is "important" that "appropriate treatment" is not "stigmatised".
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