IT IS a table that no caring, civilised nation would wish to find itself top of. But the sad truth is that Scotland has the highest rate of drugs deaths in the European Union.
The numbers involved, compiled by National Records of Scotland, are shocking in themselves; in 2016 the number of drug-related deaths reached 867, up 23 per cent on the previous year. Since 1995, deaths have more than doubled. Of particularly worry for health professionals, drugs agencies and charities is the fact that the numbers are not only rising, but doing so more quickly year on year. Just imagine if as many people were murdered or killed on our roads every year - there would rightly be a national outcry.
As pointed out by the Scottish Government, however, behind the figures lies a sad and complex picture of long-term addiction, a legacy of drug abuse that stretches back decades. A breakdown of the figures shows the over-35s accounted for 72 per cent of the deaths, and 38 per cent were aged between 35 and 44, with the median age being 41. Perhaps unsurprisingly, urban Scotland suffered most deaths, with Glasgow and the surrounding area accounting for almost a third.
Public health minister Aileen Campbell is therefore right to highlight that since the pattern of addiction is so notoriously difficult to break, many of those who died will have developed other chronic medical conditions that would have contributed.
But according to addiction agencies and charities on the ground, this does not fully explain why Scotland’s death toll is so high in comparison to other European nations, and many are highly critical of both Scottish and UK Government strategies, saying they are far too focused on abstinence.
Critics also point out that services here are not integrated enough; there can be little point in tackling drug addiction if you don’t also treat mental health problems, other substance abuses, housing issues and family breakdowns at the same time.
What we also know is that many addicts quickly drop out of support programmes, which often cannot be entered until at all until a person is drug free, thus perpetuating a vicious circle.
With this in mind, some are also calling for the decriminalisation of drug use and the setting up of drugs consumption rooms that offer free heroin on prescription. Incidentally, plans to open Scotland’s first “fix room” in Glasgow are already well under way. All eyes will no doubt be on its success or otherwise.
Ms Campbell, for her part, has also promised to “refresh” the Scottish Government’s approach to drug services, but she has yet to reveal details of how this will be achieved, or whether extra funding will be made available.
The sad reality is that behind every one of these death statistics is a personal story of a life blighted by addiction, a family bereaved. It is also the story of wasted lives and communities scarred. We simply must find new, more successful ways to help and hope to those afflicted; it will be to our great shame if we do not.
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