£20m REHAB REVOLUTION
Charity chief calls for emergency cash package
DRUG campaigners say Scotland should increase its residential rehab spending to £20million immediately.
The vast majority of addicts in treatment in Scotland are funded privately or flown in from other European countries, notably Holland.
And it emerged recently that just 22 abstinence-based rehab beds were being funded for Scots.
Annemarie Ward, of charity Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR), echoed a call last week from Scottish Labour’s Monica Lennon, who called for an immediate £20million cash injection for rehab.
Ward said: “Just five per cent of Scots who entered treatment in 2019-20 were in residential rehab compared to 11 per cent across 20 EU member states. We believe a £20million annual commitment to rehab should be a starting point which could fund treatment for up to 1000 people.
“It is agreed by most in this field, including the Scottish Government, that we need a full complement of
IN AN open letter after the latest drug death figures were announced, the Record reminded First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that talk is cheap.
Any treatment must be backed up with long-term throughcare rather than sending addicts back to poverty and social problems that combine with trauma in early life to spark addiction.
In a social media post, Sturgeon wrote: “It’s on us to show we are on top of the drugs crisis and that’s what I‘m determined we do.”
In response to our criticism of slow, underfunded and ineffective strategies, Sturgeon promised a more dynamic approach in 2021 and treatment, including rehab and well-run harm-reduction programmes. “There should be a complete restructuring of care, taking control away from the NHS and putting it in the hands of third sector groups with proven track records.
“We have been quietly optimistic that we will see some improvement and more urgency from the First Minister but we have listened to so her statement today comes after consultations with drugs policy minister Angela Constance, who succeeded Joe FitzPatrick.
Sturgeon is aware there is more to be done than getting people into rehab. Today, she will talk about getting more people into any kind of treatment.
She has listened to appeals for more same-day drug prescriptions and other measures to stop addicts being driven to street dealers. Those would include better prescribing regimes in methadone and benzodiazepine treatments.
It is expected she will also talk about more naloxone to save the lives of those in danger of an overdose.
However, any measures must be backed up with hard cash and a guarantee that her iron resolve will remain until we sort this mess. many false promises in the past.” Drugs minister Angela Constance recently pledged to match the “European average” in rehab provision.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to increasing the number of residential rehabilitation placements across the country. The statement from the First Minister and forthcoming budget will set out how we plan to do this to bring Scotland in line with similar European countries.”