A legal drug-consumption room could open in Edinburgh next year, if proposals are agreed upon.
People would be legally allowed to take substances in the room, including heroin and cocaine as long as they are under medical direction.
It would also include clinics to treat wounds, diseases and sexual health.
Consultation on the issue is due to start in April, requiring approval from the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership.
The consultation is due to last 13 weeks.
The drug consumption room could be constructed in Edinburgh New Town (Spittal Street) or the Cowgate area.
But for the room to open in Edinburgh, it must be approved by Scotland’s lord advocate, Edinburgh councillors and have the NHS “provide trained staff.”
Scotland has seen the highest death rate from drugs in Europe for seven consecutive years.
The UK’s first legal room for consuming illegal drugs opened in Glasgow last year.
Glasgow’s consumption room, The Thistle, has seen 93 medical emergencies since it opened and been accessed 11,348 times as of January 2026.
Scottish drugs minister, Maree Todd, stated: “It has undoubtedly saved lives.”
Councillor Alan Casey, city convener for addictions, said that the first year of the Glasgow consumption room was “remarkable.”
Cllr Casey also stated that the rooms are: “a compassionate, evidence-based approach to this public health emergency”.
Similarly, Labour Councillor in Edinburgh, Tim Pogson, backed the consultation for a consumption room in Scotland’s capital.
He said: “We should be supporting those individuals and supporting their health.
“I know there will be concerns – but that’s why we need to have the consultation.”
However, there has been some opposition.
Annie Marie Ward, an addiction professional and former addict, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “[Drug consumption rooms are] neither kind, compassionate, nor progressive.”
Conservative councillor, Max Mitchell also voiced concerns about the plans in August last year, saying he was confused about what the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board was to agree on.
The consultation this year will be crucial, to both supporters and opponents of the consumption room.
“Cowgate, Edinburgh” by Hammerhead27 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.