Figures released last week show that the number of patients treated for cocaine use at Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Edinburgh and the Lothians has quadrupled over the last five years, from 64 in 2013/14 (5%) to 273 in 2018/19 (17%).
The number of patients being treated for heroin use has decreased over the last five years, form 601 in 2013/14 (42%) to 566 in 2018/19 (36%).
Heroin remains the drug which the highest number of patients are treated for in Lothian ADPs, followed by Cannabis 301 (19%) and then Cocaine 273 (17%) which has overtaken Diazepam.
In Lothian there are three Alcohol and Drug Partnerships – Edinburgh, West Lothian and Lothian Mid and East ADP.
Conservative Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has been campaigning for improvement to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Lothian, which have longer waiting times than in other Scottish health boards. Trouble recruiting staff has been one of the reasons highlighted for longer waiting times in Lothian.
Last year Miles Briggs, who is the Tory health spokesman at Holyrood, criticised Edinburgh Integration Joint Board for withholding £1.4 million in funds, for over a year, that were allocated for substance misuse services.
Scotland has the highest drug rate in the European Union and both the Scottish and UK Government held conferences in Glasgow last week to try and tackle the problem.
Miles Briggs MSP said: “Whilst the number of people treated by Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) in Edinburgh and the Lothian has remained roughly the same, the type of drugs being treated for has noticeably changed.
“It is reassuring that fewer people are being treated for heroin at ADPs, but the increase in the number of people being treated for cocaine is very worrying.
“Patients who are attending Alcohol and Drug Partnerships must be seen as soon as possible to get treatment and give them the best possible chance of recovery.
“In the Lothians and across Scotland there has been a record number of people who are dying from drug abuse. There needs to be a shift towards recovery and rehabilitation and all parties must work together to reverse this trend.”
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