Edinburgh to hold public consultation on drug consumption room

The UK's only existing drug consumption room is the Thistle Centre in Glasgow

Edinburgh city councillors have agreed to hold a public consultation on plans for a safe drug consumption room in the city.

The facility would allow people to inject illegally-bought heroin or cocaine under medical supervision.

It would be the second facility of its kind in the UK after the Thistle Centre opened in Glasgow in January.

Two potential sites have been identified in Edinburgh's Old Town. The consultation expected to begin early next year.

Labour councillor Tim Pogson, chair of Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, said: "We all recognise that Edinburgh has a problem in terms of harmful drug use.

"We should be supporting those individuals and supporting their health.

"And I know there will be concerns – but that's why we need to have the consultation."

The lounge area at the Thistle Centre in Glasgow

Mr Pogson said efforts would be made to pair the consumption room with existing drug and homelessness services.

Along with facilities for taking drugs, the consumption room would also include clinics to tackle other health issues.

These include wound care, infectious diseases and sexual health. Also, potential screening and management for chronic diseases.

Safe consumption rooms have existed in Europe since the 1970s, with legally sanctioned ones coming into place in the 1980s.

Reporting by local democracy reporter Joe Sullivan.