The Herald

Groups back rehab funding appeal as drug death figures to be published

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DRUGS recovery organisati­ons are calling on the Scottish Government to provide £20 million more funding for rehab beds, ahead of new figures for drugs-related deaths being published today.

The delayed figures for 2019 are set to be released after drugs-related deaths in Scotland accounted of the death of 1,187 people in 2018.

CEO of Phoenix Futures, Karen Biggs, said: “We know many people across Scotland would benefit from residentia­l treatment but aren’t able to access it.

“Residentia­l treatment is one of a range of treatments that should be available to people when they need it regardless of where they live.

“Greater investment and quicker action is needed if we are to stop people from dying of a condition we know how to treat.”

Jericho House manager Michael Trail said there has been “some positive developmen­ts” around the provision of residentia­l rehab services.

He added: ”However, far more resources are still needed to increase the number of rehabilita­tion beds and save lives. Jericho House currently receives no funding to support our 18 male and 10 female beds. It’s an unsustaina­ble position and needs to change if we are to continue helping people get well.

“In the face of so many deaths, we should be aiming to expand residentia­l rehabilita­tion provision but as it stands, we’re struggling to retain what we have just now.”

Scottish Conservati­ve leader Douglas Ross said: “I spoke to experts in drug recovery at a Roundtable Scotland event and while we don’t agree on every single proposal, I’m convinced by the need for a rapid expansion of rehab beds and recovery services across Scotland.

“Thousands of people are tragically dying each and every year.

The loss those families feel is made even worse by the fact that the deaths are avoidable.

“The Scottish Government is in full control of health in Scotland and there is broad consensus among recovery experts that increasing rehab beds will save lives. Where there is agreement, we must work together to address this crisis.

“The Scottish Conservati­ves will push for the proposed Scottish Recovery Fund in the Scottish Budget this year and if the government does not agree to it, we will include it in our manifesto.”

The Liberal Democrats have also called for more action from the Scottish Government to halt rising drug deaths.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokespers­on Alex Cole-hamilton has warned that “another year has slipped by without discernibl­e progress and thousands of people are still at serious risk”.

A Scottish Government Spokespers­on said: “The Residentia­l Rehabilita­tion Working Group has made recommenda­tions on access to residentia­l treatment, capacity planning and developing pathways, which is the beginning of a significan­t piece of work in our long term efforts to reduce the harms caused by alcohol and drug use.”

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