Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership’s consultation is open until 1 July
In our manifesto, we set out our ambition for national network of safer drug consumption facilities across Scotland. We believe this is a practical, evidence-based response to a public health emergency that continues to cost lives.
That’s why we welcome Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership’s consultation on opening a safer drug consumption facility in the Old Town. In the coming weeks, we will work closely with members of our Edinburgh Living Experience Engagement Group to submit our response – and, of course, we will be supporting the proposal.
Learning from Glasgow’s experience
Scotland’s first safer drug consumption facility – The Thistle – opened in Glasgow at the beginning of 2025. Since then, it has faced significant criticism and, at times, inaccurate reporting from parts of the media and some elected representatives.
So, here are the facts. The Thistle provides a safe, supervised environment where people can inject drugs obtained elsewhere, under the care of trained nursing and social care staff. Crucially, it also offers access to wider health and treatment services – creating a bridge to support that many individuals would not otherwise engage with.
The wider social supports like access to showers, clothing and basic necessities restore dignity and stability in small but meaningful ways.
In its first year, the facility was used 11,348 times by 575 people. All 11,348 of these visits represent a vital opportunity to reduce harm, build trust and save lives.
There were 93 ‘medical emergencies’ during that time – all of which were managed safely on site by staff. Without The Thistle, the people who experienced those emergencies could have had an overdose alone, with no one there to help. The provision of such a service shows people who use drugs and their families that we, as a nation, believe that every life is worth saving.
Scaling up with urgency
We must be honest about what a single facility can and cannot achieve. The Thistle is never going to reverse a public health crisis decades in the making – and neither will a single facility in Edinburgh. Any suggestion that they could misunderstands both the scale of the challenge we face in Scotland and the purpose of the services.
These facilities are designed for – and will be used by – people in their surrounding communities. That’s why we need a network of safer drugs consumption facilities across Scotland – and particularly in places where people are known to use substances outdoors or in unsafe environments. Delivering this will require a range of models, including mobile and outreach-based services.
We also need to be able to respond to changing patterns of drug use. With the growth of crack cocaine, consideration must be given to how safer inhalation spaces can be incorporated into safer drug consumption facilities.
Community concerns
We understand that people living in the Old Town may have concerns about a facility opening nearby. These concerns must be heard and they deserve real, honest engagement.
We encourage local residents to speak directly with Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership about how the service would operate – and to remember that the people who would benefit from it are already part of their community. As well as supporting people to access help to improve their lives, safer drug consumption facilities aim to reduce the negative impact that injecting outdoors has on local residents, communities and businesses.
Have your say
You can respond to the consultation online or by attending a drop-in session held by Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership.