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SDCF - Frequently asked questions

Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) established a Safer Drug Consumption Facility (SDCF) in Glasgow City Centre. 

SDCF - Engagement

In September 2023 Glasgow City Integration Joint Board (IJB) approved a plan to implement a Safer Drug Consumption Facility in Hunter Street Health and Care centre.

Safer drug consumption facilities (SDCFs) are clean, hygienic environments where people can consume drugs, obtained elsewhere, under the supervision of trained health and social care professionals, reducing the risk of overdose and infectious diseases whilst offering support and access to healthcare and social care services.

North East Locality Engagement Forum

You can find details of future and previous meetings and events below.

IJB Public Engagement Committee Papers

The next meeting of the IJB Public Engagement Committee will take place on Wednesday 12th November 2025 at 10am.

If you wish to watch the proceedings, please email glasgowcityijb@glasgow.gov.uk and a link to access the MS Teams feed of the meeting will be sent to you. Please see Guidance for Participating in a Virtual Meeting.

The meeting papers are available approximately one week prior to the meeting.

SDCF - Background information

There are over 100 Safer Drug Consumption Facilities (SDCF) worldwide including Europe, North America and Australia.

SDCFs offer a compassionate, person-centred service which focuses on reducing the harms associated with injecting drug use and helps people access appropriate services to meet their needs.

SDCF - News and updates

In this area you will find all the latest news and updates relating to our plans for a Safer Drug Consumption Facility (SDCF).

SDCF - Local communities

Safer Drug Consumption facilities (SDCF) were first established in Switzerland in the 1980’s. There are now more than 100 of these facilities worldwide, which has resulted in extensive research and evaluation of the impact on local communities.

The general themes from this research show that following the opening of SDCFs:

Safer Drug Consumption Facility

Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and other partners have worked to develop the first Safer Drug Consumption Facility (SDCF) in Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Tour the Thistle

Everyone is welcome to visit The Thistle. We’re organising visits and they’ll include a short tour of the service and you can also learn about what we offer and our goals. You will also have the chance to ask any questions you may have about the service. See below for dates of the visits. 

Thistle Service Data

See below for definitions of Data.