Consultation on the Proposed Edinburgh Safer Drug Consumption Facility - Easy Read

Overview

About this survey

About the SDCF Survey

 

  • A carer, support worker or family member can help you to read this guide and answer the questions.

  • You don’t have to answer all of the questions if you don’t want to.

  • We won’t ask for your name.

Drugs

  • A drug is a chemical that you take into your body, which changes the way you feel and act.

  • Some drugs are hard for people to stop taking once they start. This is called a drug use problem.

  • Some drugs can harm people’s health or cause death if they take too much.

  • Taking too much of a drug is called an overdose.

Helping people with drug use problems

 

  • People who are have a drug use problem usually need help to stop taking drugs.
  • They might also need help with the health problems that the drug might cause.
  • Lots of people in Edinburgh are being harmed by overdosing drugs.
  • A lot of overdoses happen in public places which is not safe for the person.

Safer Drug Consumption Facility

 

  • A safer drug consumption facility or SDCF is a warm, clean place people can go to take drugs they already have.
  • Staff at the SDCF can look after people who are taking drugs if they overdose or get ill from them.
  • Staff can get people help with their health problems and any other support they need.

Why we are doing this survey

 

  • Health and care services in Edinburgh   are looking at opening a safer drug consumption facility.
  • We are looking at opening it in the Old Town in Edinburgh.
  • This is because most drug overdoses happen in the Old Town.

Your View

 

  • We need to consult people who might be affected before we decide to open the SDCF.
  • Consulting means asking for your views and considering them when making the decision

If you have any questions about this public consultation please contact eadp@edinburgh.gov.uk

Need a different language or format?

Please email the Interpretation and Translation Service at its@edinburgh.gov.uk quoting reference 25-1026.

Have Your Say

This activity will open on 1 Apr 2026. Please come back on or after this date to give us your views.

Opens 1 Apr 2026

Closes 1 Jul 2026

Areas

  • All Edinburgh

Audiences

  • Businesses
  • Homeless People
  • People with disabilities
  • People with long term conditions
  • Professionals
  • Residents

Interests

  • Community safety
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • People with addictions
  • People with mental health issues
  • Poverty and Inequality