Edinburgh Approves Early 2026 Public Consultation on Second Scottish Safe Drug Consumption Room

Edinburgh city councillors have approved a public consultation to consider plans for a safe drug consumption room in the city's Old Town, which would allow supervised use of heroin or cocaine. The consultation, expected to begin early in 2026 and run for about three months, will seek public input on the location and details of the facility, which aims to support individuals with harmful drug use and connect them to health and social services. The proposed site could be co-located with homeless day services or opiate replacement therapy centers, operating seven days a week with nurses supervising injections or inhalations. Additional services would include drug checking, naloxone distribution to reverse overdoses, and clinics addressing wound care, infectious diseases, sexual health, and chronic disease management. This initiative, supported by Labour councillor and Edinburgh Integration Joint Board chair Tim Pogson, is modeled after similar facilities in Glasgow and Dublin and is intended to reduce harm and save lives. Officials acknowledge public concerns and emphasize the consultation's role in addressing issues and achieving the best outcomes for the community.