We must have more robust action now

Deaths in Lanarkshire up by 27 per cent

Lanarkshire is below the national average and is surpassed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian.”

Mr Docherty continued: “Recent figures reported bring to head the need for more robust action and the need to ensure that we as an organisation are doing everything within our expertise that we can to support those most vulnerable and at risk.”

Of the 130 drug-related deaths in Lanarkshire, 58 were in South Lanarkshire and 72 in North Lanarkshire.

The vast majority (115) of these were classed as accidental poisoning. Other causes included intentional self-poisoning (eight), drug abuse (two) and undetermined intent (five).

Heroin or morphine was a factor in 59 of the 130 deaths while benzodiazepines (87), methadone (52), cocaine (28) and alcohol (25) were also major factors.

The figures represent a near 60 per cent increase in the last decade with just 53 drugs-related deaths recorded in Lanarkshire in 2008.

Elinor Dicki, public health intelligence advisor at NHS Health Scotland, has said that something needs to be done to reverse the trend.

She said: “For the first time, 2018 saw over a thousand drug-related deaths in Scotland.

“We should not underestimate the impact of those losses on individuals, families and communities across the country.

“Drug-related deaths are now a substantial contributor to worsening life expectancy trends. Action must be taken to address the underlying causes and improve the circumstances in which people live. Systematic changes are needed to reduce harm and save lives. “The outcome we all want is fewer people dying at an early age, and we should do whatever it takes to ensure everyone in Scotland’s right to health. “Sometimes that might include helping people live with their drug use whilst we tackle the more enduring issues that led them to use drugs in the first place. “Drug-related deaths are preventable. With compassion and support from joined-up services, creating hope for people in need, and laws that seek to cut harm, we can turn the rising tide around.” Dr Andrew Mcauley, principal scientist at Health Protection Scotland, said: “We need to look beyond substances themselves if we are to reduce mortality and pursue a public health approach focused on quality of life and harm reduction. “There is evidence of what we can do immediately to keep people safe. In particular, we have to increase capacity and retention in specialist drug treatment services to ensure rapid access to opioid substitution therapy. “Looking further ahead, changes to legislation which would support a public health approach – for example to allow for provision of safer consumption facilities – could reduce both drugrelated harms and deaths”.