A memorial to all those who have lost their lives from drug overdoses is set to be created in Edinburgh.
The most recent drug deaths figures for the capital saw the most ever recorded in a year, with 109 in 2021 - up from 92 the year before.
The council has now agreed to explore setting up a place of remembrance somewhere in the city for people who have lost loved ones through the tragic circumstances to reflect.
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A councillor welcomed the move to commemorate those included in the devastating statistics but said opening up safe consumption rooms would be "one of the greatest things we could do".
A motion tabled by the SNP's Finlay McFarlane and passed by the council requested a report to be brought forward "investigating the possible options for a formal memorial or place of remembrance to those who tragically lost their lives in this way".
Addressing a full council meeting on Thursday (June 1), he said: "Since really the aftermath of World War Two, Edinburgh as a city has suffered the unimaginable loss of thousands of our friends, relatives and loved ones to overdose.
"Each person was special to someone and each person died in a way that is entirely preventable."
The council is already investigating making it essential for bars and nightclubs to stock and train staff in using the 'overdose reversal' medicine Naloxone, and a study into setting up a safe consumption room in Edinburgh is also underway.
Cllr McFarlane said: "International overdose awareness day is the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends that are left behind.
"So let's now ensure that we not only mark this important day every August but take steps to provide a special place in our city where people can publicly mourn and remember loved ones in a safe environment.
"The lack of a dedicated space given the scale of loss in our city is a wrong that should be righted, particularly because the shame and guilt that can be attributed to those left behind can be so debilitating."
He said the council could work with families, third sector and Edinburgh Drug and Alcohol Partnership to create a "dedicated space where perhaps we can ease some of that pain, that guilt and that shame".
It could be "perhaps just a quiet corner planted up in a park," he added.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Labour, said: "No doubt right now on social media people will be talking about how the victims of this are nothing but junkies - an absolutely horrible term - but the people I know from my home town of Kirkcaldy who have died of drugs overdoses, I last seen them at school when they had huge potential."
Lib Dem councillor Euan Davidson said a dedicated memorial for drug overdose victims was "the least we can do after decades of public policy failure".
The Conservatives' Christopher Cowdy said: "I was a little surprised that is was the SNP that bringing this motion to us today, particularly when the party, the SNP, had failed to support the Conservatives' right to addiction recovery bill when it was brought to Holyrood in 2021."
Cllr Katrina Faccenda, Labour, added: "One of the greatest things we could do when we're talking about the devastating impacts of overdoses is actually for Edinburgh to move forwards in opening up a safe consumption facility as well."
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