- Cross-government action plan backed by £68 million
More than 80 actions supported by £68 million over the course of
this parliament are outlined in the Scottish Government’s
response to Changing Lives, the final report from the Drug Deaths
Taskforce.
Measures are being taken across a broad range of areas including
employment, justice, transport, education and health and social
care to improve the lives of those affected by drugs.
The response is underpinned by two principles – that services
treat problem drug use the same as any other health condition and
that people with lived experience are involved in policy
decisions.
Many of the 20 recommendations and 139 action points made by the
Taskforce are already being addressed but new announcements
include:
- £30 million ringfenced from the Enhanced Services Allocation
to NHS territorial Boards from April 2023 to support specific
drug treatment services within primary care settings
- £18 million to develop stabilisation and crisis care
services, in addition to the £100 million already available for
residential rehabilitation
- £4.3 million for a Stigma Action Plan which includes an
accreditation scheme for organisations to improve awareness and
challenge stigma across public life
- £5.5 million for new programmes for children and families
including the expansion of Routes, a young person’s support group
run by Scottish Families Affected By Drugs
- £3.4 million additional funding to deliver a workforce action
plan and expand the Addiction Workers Training Programme run by
the Scottish Drugs Forum and an additional £3.3 million to expand
trauma training
- £2.4 million to improve care for people with co-occurring
mental health and substance use conditions to build on the
recommendations set out in the recent rapid review
- £0.5 million for an initial pilot to expand the concessionary
travel scheme to include people with a substance dependency
Drugs Policy Minister said:
“Every drug death is a tragedy and unacceptable. We continue to
face a public health emergency and cannot underestimate the scale
of this crisis.
“The Drug Deaths Taskforce was formed to provide independent
expert advice on our response to this emergency and this
cross-government action plan includes a broad range of
initiatives which will not only support the complex needs of
people who use drugs but also help support prevention and early
intervention.
“This publication outlines our whole government commitment to
addressing this challenge and ensuring that people with problem
substance use can access all the services they need and are
entitled to.
“I thank the Taskforce members, past and present, for their
important contribution. The final report, Changing Lives, has
provided us with clear, evidenced recommendations and our
response outlines a new, even more ambitious, phase of our
mission to save and improve lives.”
Background
The plan is supported by a total of £68 million over the course
of this Parliament.
Funding of £38 million will be made available through alcohol and
drug policy budgets - this includes an additional £12 million
outlined in the 2023-24 budget. These new commitments will ensure
the Scottish Government invests £250 million on the National
Mission over the course of the parliament. In addition £10
million per year (totalling £30 million) will be ringfenced from
the Enhanced Services Allocation to NHS territorial Boards to
support the primary care response to the drugs crisis.
Enhanced Services are services over and above the standard GP
contract which GP practices can decide whether or not to take.
The terms of Directed Enhanced Services are set by the Scottish
Government which then directs Health Boards to offer them to GP
practices. Health Boards and GP practices may also locally agree
other Enhanced Services to meet particular needs in their area.
Drugs Deaths Taskforce Report: A
Cross Government Approach
