Scottish Drugs Forum

24/06/2026

Final chance to have your say!

The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership consultation on a proposed safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) in Edinburgh closes on 1 July.

If you haven’t already shared your views, there’s still time: https://buff.ly/zYdTGcW

You can read our responses in the comments.

Find and participate in consultations run by City of Edinburgh Council

23/06/2026

🚨SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

We are delighted to announce that Mat Southwell will be speaking on Day 2 of our conference this year.

Mat’s presentation will explore the growing use of ketamine in the UK and the challenges faced by people who use ketamine in accessing appropriate support and treatment. The session will reflect on how the lack of a coordinated public health response has led ccommunities to develop innovative peer-led approaches to harm reduction.

Mat Southwell is Managing and Technical Director of Coact Technical Support, a community-led training and consultancy organisation working around the world to promote the health and rights of people who use drugs.

With extensive experience in harm reduction and community-led responses, Mat has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure the voices and experiences of people who use drugs inform policy, practice and service development.

📆 26 & 27 August
📍 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow
🔗 Book now: https://buff.ly/sPp46ew

22/06/2026

Last week, our Chief Executive Kirsten Horsburgh attended Public Health Scotland (PHS) hosted Summit on Drug Related Harms. Ahead of the event, we were contacted by PHS to discuss the meaningful inclusion of people with lived and living experience.

We are committed to ensuring that people are not simply spoken about – but are present in the room to share their own perspectives and experiences. We are pleased that five members of our SDF National Living Experience Engagement Group were invited to attend the summit and had the opportunity to participate directly alongside senior politicians and leaders.

Last week, our Chief Executive attended the Public Health Scotland hosted Summit on Drug Related Harms, joining the First Minister, Cabinet Secretary for…

19/06/2026

Today, the First Minister John Swinney announced a £36.9 million fund to support prevention, treatment and recovery across Scotland.

We are proud to be working with the Corra Foundation to deliver the local support strand of this important fund, helping grassroots organisations sustain and strengthen services in local communities.

We understand the realities of delivering services with limited time and resources and we're here to help.

The SDF Local Support team offers free support to grassroots drug and alcohol organisations across Scotland, including practical guidance on governance, safeguarding, sustainability, planning and organisational development to help build strong foundations for future growth and impact.

We encourage organisations to get in touch early. Whether you are exploring an opportunity with the Alcohol and Drug Fund, developing a new idea or facing organisational challenges, we can help identify priorities and provide tailored support.

Find out more: https://buff.ly/px6Nx7F

19/06/2026

📢 Have your say

The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership consultation on a proposed safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) in Edinburgh is still open until 1st July 2026.

We have submitted our organisational response to the consultation, alongside a separate response developed with members of our Edinburgh Living Experience Engagement Group and Buzz Magazine Peer Editorial Board, reflecting the views and experiences of people with living and lived experience of substance use.

Read our responses and respond to the consultation here:

Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership is currently consulting on proposals to open a safer drug consumption facility in the Old Town.  SDF strongly…

18/06/2026

Everyone at SDF would like to thank May Riddell for delivering such a positive and restorative wellbeing experience at our recent staff event.

May is a graduate of our National Traineeship, a nine-month salaried programme combining work placements, specialist training and vocational learning, to support trainees to progress into roles across the drug, alcohol and wider social care sectors.

Alongside creating clear pathways into employment for people with living and lived experience, the National Traineeship strengthens services by bringing valuable insight directly into the workforce.

After graduating, May went on to work in drug and alcohol services before launching her own business, May Riddell Therapies . We’re so proud of her journey and delighted that she continues to stay connected with SDF.

16/06/2026

🚨SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

We are delighted to announce that Professor Niamh Nic Daeid and Dr Lorna Nisbet will be speaking on Day 2 of our conference.

Their presentation will explore Scotland’s response to the rapidly changing drug market, including the development of the National Testing and Research Laboratory and the implementation of four point-of-care drug-checking sites across Scotland. The session will highlight how drug checking can support rapid harm reduction interventions and forensic analysis in response to emerging drug-related harms.

Professor Niamh Nic Daeid is Director of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee and Co-director of the National Testing and Research Laboratory. An internationally recognised forensic scientist and analytical chemist, Niamh has over 30 years’ experience in forensic science education, research and casework.

Dr Lorna Nisbet is Principal Investigator for Forensic Toxicology at the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, Co-director of the National Testing and Research Laboratory, and Programme Lead for the MSc in Drug Analysis and Toxicology. She also serves as a full council member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).

📆 26 & 27 August
📍 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow
🔗 Book now: https://buff.ly/Qwg3iTD

12/06/2026

For almost 20 years, we have maintained the national directory for drug and alcohol services on behalf of the Scottish Government (TAG).

This long-standing resource continues to provide reliable, up-to-date information on local services across Scotland, including drug services, alcohol services and injecting equipment provision.

It is free, mobile-friendly and designed to ensure people can access trusted information about support whenever they need it.

🔗 drugandalcoholservices.scot

11/06/2026

🚨SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

We are delighted to announce that Elinor Jayne will be speaking on Day 1 of our Stop The Deaths conference this year.

Elinorwill outline the scale and nature of alcohol harms in Scotland, what has been done to date, and what Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) believes should happen next to reduce the number of people in Scotland negatively affected by alcohol.

Elinor is Director of SHAAP and brings extensive experience in influencing policy and representing organisations across Scotland and the UK. She has worked across a range of sectors, including leading the influencing team at national healthcare charity Sue Ryder, and previously held roles with the Royal College of Nursing, Edinburgh City Centre Management Company, and the Scottish Retail Consortium.

📆 26 & 27 August
📍 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow
🔗 Book now: https://buff.ly/Qwg3iTD

10/06/2026

📢 Reminder: Have your say

The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership consultation on a proposed safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) in Edinburgh is still open.

This is your chance to help shape the future of harm reduction services in the city. Find out why we want to see a network of SDCFs across Scotland by reading our blog.

To complete the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership online questionnaire or attend a drop-in session, follow the link in our comments.

⏳ Closes: 1 July 2026

Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership’s consultation is open until 1 July In our manifesto, we set out our ambition for national network…