Drug deaths second highest in Scotland
Grim figures show106 people in county died in 2020
Shocking statistics have revealed Ayrshire has the second highest drugs deaths in Scotland.
Annual figures, published by National Records of Scotland on Friday showed that 1339 people died of drug misuse in Scotland last year, with the country seeing a record number of deaths for the seventh year in a row.
Ayrshire and Arran’s drug related deaths have rose from 7.1 per 100,000 population in the period 2000 to 2004 to a staggering 27.2 per 100,000 population in 2016 to 2020, making it the second-highest rate of Scottish health board areas.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde had the highest rate of all health board areas at 30.8 deaths per 100,000 people with Tayside following Ayrshire and Arran with 25.7 deaths per 100,000 people.
Across Ayrshire and Arran, the grim number of lives lost from drug related deaths in 2020 was 106.
In East Ayrshire, there were 36 drug deaths recorded; 39 in North Ayrshire and 31 recorded in South Ayrshire.
The annual average of drug related deaths across Ayrshire and Arran from 2006 to 2010 was 34, which has risen to 88 between 2016 and 202 , highlighting the extent of the region’s drug related death crisis.
Andrew Horne, executive director in Scotland for drug, alcohol and mental health charity, With You, said the rising drug death figures are tragic and preventable.
He said: “We have a mountain to climb to reverse these alarming figures but with the recently strengthened commitment and decisive action now being taken, we are hopeful that change is possible.
“New investment in outreach teams for people who have
had a non-fatal overdose or who have dropped out of treatment marks a significant step forward, as does the improved support for people transitioning from prison into the community.
“Changes to enable quicker access to appointments and more choice over treatment, as standard across Scotland, are also positive. These figures are stark, but with new initiatives, clear standards and high expectations of services and partnership working, they can be brought down.”
People seeking help for drug use in East Ayrshire are receiving support the same day through an initiative introduced ahead of new treatment standards for Scotland.
A total of £4million was announced in May to fund Medication Assisted Treatment
(MAT) standards, which will mean people who use drugs receive help the day they ask for it regardless of where they live.
The Alcohol and Drugs Partnership in East Ayrshire started the RADAR (Rapid Access to Drug and Alcohol Recovery) project in April in response to requests for quicker access to treatment.
All patients who present for help on weekdays are given appropriate support the same day with an emergency service available at weekends.
East Ayrshire Council’s spokesperson for social care, mental wellbeing and addiction recovery councillor Clare Maitland said being in contact with a service can play a significant factor is preventing drug related deaths.
She said: “The faster we can get someone help and support, the better the outcomes will
be for them, their family, and ultimately for our communities.
“So reducing our waiting time for drug and alcohol treatment from three weeks to, in most cases, just one day has been a great step forward for East Ayrshire.”
Chair of the East Ayrshire Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Neil Kerr echoed this and added: “RADAR is a direct result of listening to and working with our services and people who use them.
“We heard loud and clear that waiting for three weeks for treatment was three weeks too long. We need to intervene with people and support them when they ask for it and often that means the same day.”
Angela Constance MSP was appointed to the newly created post of minister for drugs policy in the wake of the 2019 figures.
She praised the new RADAR project in East Ayrshire and said: “Getting more people into treatment is key to our national mission to tackle drug deaths.
“The MAT standards are vital to this, ensuring consistency across the country, and I have set a target of April 2022 for the implementation of all 10 of them.
“We have said a national mission is needed to tackle the drug deaths emergency and we have allocated an additional £250 million over the next five years to improve and increase access to services for people affected by drug addiction.”
If you or a loved one needs help or support, please visit www.wearewithyou.org.uk for their online support, including online chat, or phone 0808 178 4549.
More help is available across Ayrshire at: South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire.