New family rehab service to help women and prevent drug deaths

The centre will be based in Saltcoats in Ayrshire and have space for 20 families, to target women who are at risk of a drug related death.

Angela Constance, the Drug Policy minister said it was part of the ‘national mission’ to prevent drug deaths.

READ MORE: Drug check service to cut overdose deaths planned for Glasgow

It comes days after it was revealed the Scotland had another record total of drug deaths in 2020, with 1339 deaths. In Glasgow there were 291 deaths.

While men are more likely to die in a drug related death the Minister said there had been a rise in women dying and having a child taken into care increased the risk.

She said: “Though men are more likely to use and experience harms from drugs, there has been a disproportionate increase in drug related deaths among women and there is a strong link between women having children removed from their care and risk of drug related death.”

READ MORE:People tell stories of those lost to drug deaths in Glasgow

The service will be run by Phoenix Futures, which currently has services in Glasgow.

Constance added: “It is vital that we make it easier for parents to access treatment by removing any barriers such as a lack of childcare and this project, run by Phoenix Futures will do exactly that.”

She said, in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, funding for the service will be made available from the £100 million announced earlier this year as part of the national mission to improve and increase the provision of residential rehabilitation.

Other actions announced included commissioning research on the role and risks of methadone in drug related deaths

There will be an awareness campaign on the increasing availability and benefits of the overdose reversal drug naloxone.

She announced a campaign to tackle stigma of drug use and how it prevents people seeking help.

There will be consideration whether alcohol and drugs services should be included in new National Care Service and a target for the number of people in treatment for 2022 will be set.

The Minister added: “To tackle the number of drug deaths in this country we must increase the number of people in treatment and we will shortly be announcing a target so we can measure the impact of the introduction of the Medication-Assisted Treatment standards.”

Phoenix Futures said the new service was a good start to the commitment to more rehab from the government.

CJ Williams, Phoenix Futures Director of Operations, said: “The Scottish Government’s Residential Rehabilitation Rapid Capacity Programme (Recovery Fund) announcement that it has agreed in principle to fund a National Specialist Residential Family Service in Scotland has been well received by all at Phoenix Futures Scotland.

“There is a clear and defined need for a service that supports families to stay together in a safe residential setting.

“Phoenix Futures have decades of experience of providing services for families to draw from in establishing and operating this new project.

“The Specialist Family Service will create fairer access to residential rehab for the whole family, and is a welcomed start to the commitment of investment from The Scottish Government as part of its mission to reduce drug related deaths and harms.

“We look forward to working with all involved to open Scotland’s National Specialist Residential Family service.”

Opposition leaders said they were still not satisfied that the First Minister did not make the statement.

Douglas Ross, Conservative leader, said “When is the First Minister and this government going to wake up? When will she stop abandoning our communities? When is she going to listen to those on the frontline?

“Our Right to Recovery Bill proposal has been developed by frontline experts to guarantee everyone gets the treatment they need. It’s backed by seven recovery organisations and, apparently, some SNP MSPs. It would cut through the broken treatment system and save lives.”

Constance said she had not seen the Bill.

She said: “I will of courses give serious consideration to any proposition. I’ve never ruled out the need for further legislation.

“With respect I have to say I’ve still to see the bill so I’m not going to give blanket commitment.

“Scrutiny works both ways. It’s imperative I see the work.”

Anas Sarwar, Labour leader, said: “Nicola Sturgeon cannot escape the fact that she and her party have been in Government for almost 15 years, that she cut the budgets for drug and alcohol services and that under her watch our drugs deaths in Scotland are almost 5 times that of the rest of the UK despite having the same laws.

“The Minister is right to say that this is Scotland’s national shame, but she must recognise that it is the Scottish National Party’s shame too.”

He criticised previous cuts.

Sarwar added: “More funding is welcome, but it must do more than fill the holes in funding that their cuts already created.