Drug consumption rooms could provide ‘vital support’ to users, study concludes

Drug consumption rooms allow users to inject under medical supervision (Jane Barlow/PA)

Safer drug consumption facilities (SDCF) and drug checking could provide “vital support” to users living in the Scottish capital, a study has said.

According to a team of experts at the University of Stirling, SDCFs could be key to addressing drug harms in Edinburgh.

The study, commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, recommends SDCFs are set up in a number of locations across the city.

It comes in light of concern surrounding drug usage in Edinburgh.

Researchers noted “changing patterns” of drug use in the city, including a rise in the number of people injecting cocaine, the use of multiple drugs at the same time, and high levels of benzodiazepine abuse.

Benzodiazepines are generally prescribed for anxiety, insomnia and seizures.

Researchers say the city’s “complex and variable” patterns of drug consumption mean SDCFs must do more than allow people to inject heroin.

A total of 22 people who inject drugs were interviewed for the study, as well as families and professionals working in health.

Drug consumption room — A drug consumption room has been given the green light in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA)

People working in housing, treatment and other services were also interviewed, and were “strongly supportive” of SDCF provision as part of a wider harm reduction and treatment response.

The participants agreed SDCFs are non-judgemental spaces and could help steer people towards recovery.

There are more than 200 SDCFs operating globally in about 12 countries, with the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership set to open one in the city later this year.

Edinburgh councillors are due to meet in March to discuss the study, which was conducted by the University of Stirling, Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of Glasgow and Figure 8 Consultancy.

Dr James Nicholls, senior lecturer in public health at the University of Stirling, said: “While safer drug consumption facilities are not a silver bullet, our study indicates they could provide vital support for marginalised and vulnerable groups in Edinburgh and play an important role in addressing the high levels of drug harms in the city.”

Councillors will also discuss feasibility on drug checking services (DCS) in Edinburgh, after the study found a demand for such facilities in the city.

Dr Hannah Carver, senior lecturer in substance use at the University of Stirling, said: “The results of both these studies into DCS show that drug checking services in Scotland need to be adaptable to local needs.

“There clearly is not a one-size-fits-all solution.”

Edinburgh City Council was contacted for comment.