Scottish Drugs Forum

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…

08/06/2026

This Pride Month, take time to learn more about the health inequalities and barriers LGBTQI+ people can face when accessing substance use support 🌈

Our LGBTQI+ e-learning course explores key moments in LGBTQI+ history and how they continue to impact the community today. It provides insight into how alcohol and other drugs are used within LGBTQI+ communities, the layers of stigma people may experience and the barriers many face when accessing services. The course also shares practical ways to help make services more inclusive and accessible.

By the end of the course, you’ll have greater understanding and practical techniques to help create safer, more inclusive support services.

Find out more and access the course here: https://buff.ly/MBJOKiQ

06/06/2026

🚨SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

We are delighted to announce that AJ Martin will be speaking on Day 2 of our Stop The Deaths conference.

AJ will discuss the connections between autism, drugs and society. Grounded in historical, scientific and experiential knowledge, AJ will explore how drugs are often used as a tool for survival in a neuronormative environment, while inviting us to consider how we can enter meaningful dialogue with neurodivergent communities to reduce drug-related harms.

AJ is a researcher and harm reduction advocate based in London. He is a PhD candidate and Co-Project Lead at the Benzo Research Project, as well as a Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) alumnus. Since entering the harm reduction and drug policy space in 2021, AJ has focused on platforming the voices of young people who take drugs.

He has co-authored a qualitative research report on young people’s benzodiazepine use, presented on topics including nitazenes, student-led harm reduction and autism, and worked with drug services across the UK to improve support and staff training.

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

05/06/2026

Our Research and Peer Engagement Programme Manager, Katy MacLeod, was on BBC Radio Scotland this morning discussing the rise in ketamine use.

We've shared a link to listen again in the comments – you can hear Katy from 8:08.

Ellie Wight thought ketamine was a "safe option" - now her bladder can hold only a fraction of the urine that it should.

05/06/2026

As we reach the end of Volunteers Week, here’s a special message from our Director of Operations Julie Heslin-McCartnery. To all our SDF volunteers – please know you make a real difference.

If you’re interested in volunteering with us, visit: https://buff.ly/5hqG0R2

04/06/2026

🎙️ New episode - Poverty, Public Health and Inequality in Scotland: What needs to change?

In this episode Kirsten and Jason are joined by Peter Kelly, CEO of The Poverty Alliance, to explore poverty and inequality in Scotland, and the relationship between poverty, public health and drug use.

They discuss the work of the Poverty Alliance, the role of living and lived experience in shaping policy, and the wider social and economic factors driving exclusion, stigma and poor health outcomes across Scotland. The conversation also looks at what Scotland’s political leaders should prioritise moving forward and the changes needed at both policy and community level.

Listen now: https://buff.ly/UC56wCB

04/06/2026

Buzz magazine is written by – and for – people who use drugs

At the heart of Buzz are the volunteers who write openly, honestly and courageously about their experiences.

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re celebrating our Buzz Editorial Board and thanking them for the insight, care and authenticity they bring to everything they do.

03/06/2026

This Volunteers’ Week, we took some of our volunteers to Twechar Outdoor Pursuits to celebrate the work they do with SDF.

It was lovely to get everyone together in nature, spend time as a group and reflect on what they have achieved.

A huge thank you to all our volunteers for the time, energy, voices and experiences they bring to our work.