Worse than we think
Centre in Perth, EPICS was formed in 2009 when carers affected by a loved one’s substance misuse came together to support one another and make a difference in Perth and Kinross.
It is an independent community group offering non-judgemental support and information to other carers.
And volunteers work with other local service providers to ensure the voices of carers in Perth and Kinross are heard.
The group is supported by the Perth and Kinross Alcohol and Drug Partnership and is made up completely of volunteers.
The EPICS group meet every Friday to help drug abusers or carers who are struggling.
Maggie also questioned the methods used at TSMS, based at Highland House, claiming they are ineffective, set service users up for failure and give users no counselling to help with their addiction.
She said: “You are put on a weekly plan with methadone and if you don’t come off the drugs you’ll be taken off your methadone prescription.
“You can go in, talk to somebody and they can take you off it there and then.
“I know personally where that’s happened. There is no actual counselling.
“There is help there but its not the right sort of help. Here you come out of detox and you’re on your own.
“People are just going back to where they live, with their friends there who take drugs and they give into the drugs eventually – because they have nothing else to do.
“There are things people can do but nobody will take them.
“I mean we willingly act as escorts for people if we were asked but Highland House won’t ask.
“TSMS don’t suggest anything drug abusers can do.
“There is supposed to be help there for the carers too.
“There is one person who deals with carers there at Highland House and it’s just too much for one person.
“But we are here for carers because we know what it’s like.
“And I think in the entire time we have been in existence they [TSMS] have only recommended four people to come to us. “I mean that’s absolutely ridiculous.” A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership insisted the figures were accurate and defended the record of TSMS.
They said: “Figures relating to drugrelated deaths have not been altered in any way. There is nationally agreed criteria for determining drug-related deaths. The National Records for Scotland receives these figures directly from public health data.
“Local alcohol and drug partnerships (ADPs) have no direct responsibility for providing these figures.
“Every single death is a tragedy that has an ongoing impact on family and friends. While there are a number of high quality services already available in Perth and Kinross to support people with their substance use issues, to successfully reduce the number of drug-related deaths which occur we need to work in partnership with services, individuals, their families, and local communities.
“TSMS is a valued service providing responsive care to its service users and their carers.
“All levels of care provision and care standards, including support to carers, are monitored and scrutinised using the robust principles of clinical and care governance.
“Any incidents or complaints would be fully investigated and any improvements to the service as a result would be implemented appropriately to ensure the service is as safe and effective as possible.
“In Perth and Kinross we are continuously improving services to support people with substance use issues to make sure that we are set up to provide the effective help and support individuals need to stop using drugs altogether.”