Following the publication of figures that show Ayrshire has some of the worst figures in Scotland for drug deaths over the last four years, a South Scotland MSP is calling for greater investment in programmes aimed at preventing addiction as well as treating it.
Scottish Conservative MSP Brian Whittle wants to see the Scottish Government putting more effort into addressing the issues that lead to addiction, as well as providing greater support to addicts trying to quit. As a member of Holyrood’s Health & Sport Committee and party spokesperson on Wellbeing and Lifestyle, Brian has been examining the level of existing support services and speaking to everyone from experts to charities to addicts about the best way to tackle Scotland’s spiralling number of drug deaths.
According to newly released figures, drug deaths in Scotland have increased by more than 27% in a year, to 1187 in 2018. That figure is three times higher than that of the UK as a whole and the highest in the EU. Shockingly, this means Scotland may now have a higher drug death rate than the USA, making it the highest in the world.
The figures show that on average between 2014 and 2018, the NHS Ayrshire & Arran area had the third worst drug death rate in Scotland and the sixth worst in 2018 alone. Even more worryingly, methadone, which is used as a treatment for heroin addiction, contributed to nearly half of all deaths across Scotland and was a factor in 67% of drug deaths in Ayrshire & Arran; making it the worst in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has come in for criticism for the length of time people spend on methadone, and cuts to funding for rehabilitation and abstinence based treatment. Recently the SNP has been demanding further powers be devolved so it can introduce supervised drug taking facilities, so called “fix rooms”, but MSP Brian believes the Scottish Government already has the powers it needs to make a difference.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“These figures are a tragedy for Scotland and show the Scottish Government’s policies aren’t getting the job done. While drugs policy remains an issue for the whole of the UK, the Scottish Government has complete control over our health service and our education system; the two most important tools for preventing needless drug deaths.
The Scottish Government’s policies are failing people across Scotland affected by drug abuse.
For far too long, too many addicts trying to come off heroin have been parked on methadone and not given the support they need to quit. Now we are seeing the consequence of that failure.
Ultimately, the best way to prevent drug deaths is to prevent drug addiction by finding ways to eliminate the paths that lead to drug taking through greater education and access to opportunity.
Alongside this, we have to recognise that while people making money from illegal drugs is a justice issue, drug taking and drug addiction are health issues and put more money and manpower into both the NHS and third sector groups like Addaction, who are best placed to help drug users turn their lives around.”
