Edinburgh 'urgently' needs drug consumption room amid 'out of control' public injecting

Residents in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town say the city must follow Glasgow in setting up a drug consumption room urgently.

Locals told STV News that they’re being confronted with piles of dirty, used needles and violent anti-social behaviour on their doorstep day and night as a result of “out of control” public drug injecting.

They said the situation is “critical” and is destroying tourism in the capital.

Tourists pile in to admire the city’s historic sights on one of Edinburgh’s most famous streets every day.

People living in Edinburgh's Old Town told STV News that they're being confronted with piles of dirty, used needles and violent anti-social behaviour on their doorstep day and night as a result of "out of control" public drug injecting. — People living in Edinburgh’s Old Town told STV News that they’re being confronted with piles of dirty, used needles and violent anti-social behaviour on their doorstep day and night as a result of “out of control” public drug injecting. iStock

However, just a few steps off the Royal Mile, needles and drug paraphernalia lie in the open, and street cleaners have to deal with finding 50 syringes a day on average.

So far this year, 10% of all drug-related deaths in Edinburgh have been a result of public injecting in closes in the Old Town. On average, around 180 ambulance call-outs are made to this area because of overdoses.

John, a former social worker specialising in drugs, told STV News that drug use in the area has gotten out of hand in recent years

“It’s become critical,” he said.

“It’s always been a safe place to stay, but now we don’t feel safe. Residents are faced with blood on the ground and needles.”

John added: “This is the world heritage site, it’s the goose that lays the Scottish tourist golden egg and what are we doing with it? We’re letting it degenerate.

“We’ll see a reduction in the number of people visiting, trade, and reputation in the city, and it’s not going to be an attractive place for people to stay.”

One solution being considered by Edinburgh City Council is the opening of a safe consumption room.

If approved, it would mirror the first facility of its kind in the UK – the Thistle Centre, which opened in Glasgow in January.

It provides a space for users to inject illegally bought drugs under medical supervision.

John says Edinburgh must follow suit.

“The opening of a new drug consumption room is not the importing of a problem to Old Town, we’ve got it now, and we need to get it controlled,” he said.

John believes the hypothetical consumption centre would have to be open 24/7 to be effective, and should be paid for by the city’s tourist tax.

However, Conservative MSP Sue Webber argues that a drug consumption centre would divert resources away from addiction services.

“I’m not supportive of this drug consumption room opening anywhere in Edinburgh,” the former city councillor said.

“I see what’s been done or not done in Glasgow, we supported a trial of a consumption room on the premise that people would be referred into rehab and recovery services, but not one single person had the opportunity to access recovery through Thistle and I don’t want to see that expand through the rest of Scotland.”

A public consultation on the proposals is likely to launch next year, after that, the Scottish Government will decide whether to fund the project or not.