On behalf of everyone at Aberlour I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to anyone who has lost a family member or a loved one as a result of a drug related death. Every statistic represents a person, someone’s mother, father, daughter, son, sister or brother. Every death is one too many.
To see drugs related deaths rise again is cause for deep concern. Today’s figures illustrate that deaths amongst men remain highest, however they also show a worrying rise in deaths amongst women.
There is no escaping the fact that poverty is a key driver of drugs deaths, with those from the most deprived areas fifteen times more likely to die from drugs misuse. If we are committed to tackling drugs deaths, then we must be relentless in our drive to combat poverty.
The Scottish Government has made tackling drugs deaths and reducing drugs harm its national mission. However, if it is to fulfil that mission then it is clear much more is needed to deliver the range of residential and community-based services around the country that are needed to reverse the increase in drugs harm and drugs related deaths.
We welcome the significant investment in residential rehabilitation and recovery services by the Scottish Government to date, including dedicated services for women such as Aberlour’s Mother and Child Recovery Houses. We know that these services are vital to provide recovery treatment and support for women and their babies, to keep families together and to help Keep The Promise.
We continue to call for further investment by the Scottish Government to make sure that accessible support is available for all those living with addiction and their families, either in the community or through residential rehabilitation and recovery services. This must include the agency for individuals to choose which supports and services are best for those that need them.
To reduce drugs harm and drugs deaths in the long-term we must turn the tide on poverty. By providing purpose and a sense of opportunity we can reduce the trauma and pain that too often leads to drugs use and addiction.
SallyAnn Kelly OBE
Aberlour Chief Executive