Needs assessment and feasibility study for a safer drug consumption facility in Edinburgh

Citation

Nicholls J, Falzon D, Masterton W, McAuley A, Dumbrell J, Steele S, Perkins A, Carver H, Trayner K, Skivington K, Duan Y & Parkes T (2024) Needs assessment and feasibility study for a safer drug consumption facility in Edinburgh. City of Edinburgh Council.

Abstract
First paragraph: Background In January 2023 the Edinburgh Alcohol and Drug Partnership commissioned an independent needs assessment and feasibility study for a safer drug consump5on facility (SDCF) in Edinburgh. The research was carried out by a team based at the University of Stirling, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Glasgow and Figure 8 Consultancy. It involved four key work packages: • a review of the global literature on SDCFs, with a focus on service design and evaluation • an assessment of available data for drug consump5on trends, harms and service provision in Edinburgh • interviews with people with lived and living experience of substance use in the city, and family members affected by substance use • interviews with key professional stakeholders and decision-makers likely to be involved in either the commissioning or delivery of a service in the city This report presents the findings from these four work packages, with recommendation for next steps.