36 drug deaths in first half of 2021 Call for‘radical solutions’after latest tragic stats revealed
More than 30 people have lost their lives to drugs in the region over the first half of 2021, according to a new report.
The latest figures follow data revealed just two months ago highlighting the country’s drug deaths toll over 2020 and follows a commitment from ministers to provide more up-to-date information as parts of efforts to tackle the problem.
The report, published by the Scottish Government, includes deaths which Police Scotland suspect involve illicit drugs based on reports from attending officers’ observations and initial enquiries at the scene of death.
It reveals that 36 such deaths have been reported in the Forth Valley area in the period between January to June this year - which represents a slight fall on the total of 42 from the opening half of 2020.
The small drop in drug deaths recorded by this measurement is reflected across Scotland, with the 722 suspected deaths in the first half of 2021 nine fewer than at the same point last year.
The new report will run alongside the annual statistics organised by the National Records of Scotland, which uses data from death registration records and covers all deaths with an underlying cause of drug poisoning or abuse from controlled substances.
The Observer revealed last month the tragic toll of the drug death epidemic locally, with 31 people losing their lives during 2020.
Those numbers were branded “truly horrific” by Bannockburn councillor Alasdair Macpherson - who was involved in a city centre soup kitchen project aimed at supporting those in need.
Mr Macpherson emphasised the necessity for face-to-face services to resume after being cancelled due to the impact of lockdown - and said he had written to Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance to take “radical solutions” over the issue.
Following the publication of the latest statistics, Ms Constance said: “Once again these figures are appalling. We are taking a vast range of actions to tackle this public health emergency, and we recognise the hard work and challenges ahead.
“More regular reporting of data on drug death trends in Scotland will ensure everyone involved in our national mission remains focussed on the work we must do to get more people into the treatment that is best suited for them as quickly as possible.
“We know that to do this we must create a more integrated, person-centred approach to treatment.
“We are therefore investing £2.3 million over the next three years in Health Improvement Scotland to ensure people are treated not only for their physical health addiction but their mental health too.
“We are also working to reduce stigma and increase awareness. The Naloxone Awareness Campaign we launched with the Scottish Drugs Forum on International Overdose Awareness Day has already attracted 2,848 visits to the StopTheDeaths website.
“The £250 million we are investing in tackling this public health emergency will make a difference. I am working to ensure it reaches frontline services as quickly as possible and that every single penny will count as we continue to prioritise our efforts to turn this crisis around.”