Tag: Scottish Recovery Fund

Call to increase funding for drugs rehabilitation beds

National Records of Scotland figures released in December) revealed that the number of drug related deaths in Edinburgh and the Lothians have risen from a previous record high last year of 152 to a new record high of 155.

The number of drug related deaths in Scotland have risen from 1,187 in 2018 to 1,264 in 2019 (the latest figures available).

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has called on increased funding for rehabilitation beds in NHS Lothian, to support drug addicts in their recovery from drugs.

Current services in NHS Lothian include:

In NHS Lothian we provide no residential rehabilitation beds as such.  What we do provide is a service called LEAP Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme which operates in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council to provide a quasi-residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation service.

The city council provide supported accommodation for Lothian patients during the treatment which is provided by NHS Lothian.  This offers around 100 treatment places per year and a treatment episode of three months followed by up to two years of aftercare.  In 2018/19, 72% of patients were admitted with alcohol problems, 43% with a cocaine problems, 35% with opiate problems and 31% with benzodiazepine problems.

Two thirds of patients had problems with two or more drugs which is why the percentages are greater than 100.

The Scottish Conservatives have called for a dedicated £20 million Scottish Recovery Fund, backed by recovery organisations including Favor Scotland, Phoenix Futures and Jericho House, to replace the cuts to rehab over the last 13 years.

In Edinburgh the number of drug related deaths has risen by 1, from 95 to 96, in East Lothian the number of drug related deaths has remained the same at 18, in West Lothian the number of drug related deaths dropped by 2 from 25 to 23 and in Midlothian the number of drug related deaths has risen from by 4 from 14 to 18.  

In the last 10 years the number of drug related deaths has more than doubled in Lothian from 73 deaths in 2010 to 155 deaths in 2019.

The number of drug related deaths from Heroin, in Lothian, has risen from 56 in 2018 to 69 in 2019.

Drug related deaths from Benzodiazepine rose from 94 in 2018 to 109 in 2019, with “street” Benzodiazepine drug related deaths rising from 69 to 85, of which Etizolam rose from 42 to 72.

Drug related deaths from cocaine rose from 51 in 2018 to 62 in 2019 and the number of alcohol related deaths dropped from 25 in 2018 to 22 in 2019.  

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “Every single drug death in Scotland is a tragedy and it is deeply concerning that the number of drug related deaths has risen year on year.

“Cuts to drug rehab beds and addiction programmes by SNP Ministers have been counterproductive in reducing drug related deaths in Scotland.

“The Scottish Conservatives have called on a £20 million Scottish Recovery Fund, to shift the focus from methadone prescriptions to drug rehabilitation programmes.

“SNP Ministers have failed to prevent people from using drugs in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s or to support people off drugs if they have become addicted.”

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland/2019

Council area120092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Scotland5454855845815276147068689341,1871,264
City of Edinburgh4547485764716990849596
East Lothian67868111011121818
Midlothian97488768191418
West Lothian2112131910161519222523
Lothian8173739090105100128137152155
NHS Board area (2019)All drug-related deathsHeroin / morphine 2MethadoneHeroin / morphine, Methadone or Bupren-orphineCodeine or a codeine-containing compoundDihydro-codeine or a d.h.c-containing compoundAny opiate or opioidBenzodiazepinesGabapentin and/or PregabalinCocaineEcstasy-typeAmphet-aminesAlcohol
Any benzo-diazepineof which:of which:
any “Prescrib-able” benzo-diazepine 3any “Street” benzo-diazepine 3
of which:of which:
DiazepamEtizolam
Scotland1,264        645        560        959        55        116        1,092        888        195        179        814        752        438        365        25        51        137        
Ayrshire & Arran108        58        50        85        1        8        98        78        4        2        76        70        40        24        0        4        5        
Borders16        4        3        7        0        3        10        10        5        5        8        7        6        1        2        2        3        
Dumfries & Galloway35        16        10        21        3        2        27        16        2        2        16        14        9        9        2        1        1        
Fife81        38        40        61        11        6        71        54        22         20        47        40        42        15        4        9        9        
Forth Valley75        46        40        61        5        2        67        63        20        20        58        52        39        20        0        5        7        
Grampian82        46        32        58        4        14        68        40        36        36        14        3        25        45        2        2        17         
Greater Glasgow & Clyde404        198        191        315        5        39        349        306        11        5        305        300        111        107        6        11        39        
Highland24        13        10        18        1        2        23        9        3        3        9        7        7        4        0        0        2        
Lanarkshire163        83        64        122        8        8        137        106        7        3        104        101        41        48        6        2        13        
Lothian155        69        72        110        11        18        126        109         60        59        85        72        73        62