Cashboostforrehabservices

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in neighbouring North Lanarkshire are to benefit from almost £200,000 of extra funding.

The Scottish Government has committed £145.3 million to alcohol and drug rehabilitation services across the country, including £50m to reduce drugs deaths.

The Scottish Budget for 2021/22 has committed a total of £16 billion to improving the nation’s health and supporting the NHS in its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government has provided £3m for NHS boards to increase provision of residential drug rehabilitation placements and improve access to treatment and harm reduction services.

North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership is set to receive over £196,779. Shotts MSP Alex Neil said: “The millions of pounds committed in the Scottish Budget to tackling drugs deaths demonstrates how seriously the Scottish Government is taking the issue.

“Over the past year, the pandemic has presented an incredible challenge for our health and support services and that has been recognised by the Scottish Government.

“We have fantastic services in North Lanarkshire, some of which are run by volunteers who give up their time to help the recovery of others. I’m sure this funding will be a boost to them.

“Action is needed now to tackle the drugs death emergency Scotland faces. Along with the appointment of the new Drugs Minister, the Scottish Government is making significant steps to tackle Scotland’s drugs crisis.”