The National Records of Scotland have confirmed that there were 1172 people who died from a drug-related death in Scotland in 2023.
Scottish Drugs Forum CEO Kirsten Horsburgh responded, ‘The number is often the focus of attention, but we must always remember the personal, family, community and national tragedy each of these deaths represents. All overdose deaths are preventable and one is too many. We have a consensus to follow evidence and we need to invest in evidence-informed services that are easily accessible to everyone. Naloxone, drug checking, safer drug consumption and medication assisted treatment services should be the core part of any overdose prevention strategy. We have a long way to go.
The MAT Standards implementation report from Public Health Scotland showed that no area has fully implemented the Standards. Yesterday we published our own research which was based on actual observations and interviews with people accessing or already in treatment. While there is definitely good practice around, people still find it hard to get into treatment and to stay engaged. Services still struggle to adequately support people and build the therapeutic, empowering relationships essential to supporting people to set and meet their own short and longer term goals.