Edinburgh’s civic chiefs are facing demands to match Glasgow’s establishment of safe drugs consumption facilities. A public meeting on Tuesday in Leith will hear from families caught up in the hell of addiction and overdoses, who believe a better approach is needed in the capital.
Supermarket worker Dean Cairns, whose father died of an overdose, is supporting the Safe Consumption Facilities campaign group, which organised the meeting at Leith Community Centre.
He said: “With the city facing a severe and ongoing drug crisis, the urgent need for SCFs has never been more apparent. In the past five years, Edinburgh has seen over 1,500 lives tragically lost to drug overdoses. This rising death toll speaks to the need for compassionate, pragmatic solutions to protect vulnerable people and reduce the devastating impact of addiction on families and communities”.
He added: “For many, including myself, this fight is deeply personal. My father, who struggled with serious drug addiction, lost his life as a result of years of battling the challenges of substance dependence. No family should have to experience the loss of a loved one as a result of drug addiction.”
Dean said such facilities offer a proven model to save lives by providing a secure, supervised environment, reducing the risk of overdose, and connecting users with vital support services to help support them take that first step away from drug addiction.
He added: “Implementing SCFs will help stem the tide of preventable deaths, offering hope to those who feel left behind. Living in Edinburgh, the effects of drug addiction are plain to see. It is within the remit and capacity of our elected representatives to resolve these issues, it is high time for them to get their fingers out.”
The campaign group had called for a feasibility study into SCFs in the city but they claim this was delayed numerous times. The group stated: “Drug deaths have tripled in the last 20 years and, in 2023, 1172 people died – a 12 per cent increase on 2022.
“We continue to believe that the establishment of effective Safer Consumption Facilities will both save public money and, crucially, save lives.”
The group expressed concerns that the much debated Glasgow ‘pilot’ – which has suffered umpteen roadblocks and delays – will be viewed as the definitive model. They are calling for more targeted action for the specific problems in Edinburgh.
The Glasgow “Thistle” initiative is expected to be up and running by the end of the year. Edinburgh City Council has been asked to comment.
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