Almost £4 million has been allocated by Scotland's Drug Deaths
Taskforce to projects to support its work reducing harm and
deaths.
The taskforce has announced the Scottish Government funding
for research and front-line services to help tackle the drug
deaths public health emergency over the next year:
- £1 million for 10 research projects examining different
approaches to tackling the public health emergency
- £3 million for Scotland’s Alcohol and Drug Partnerships
to deliver on the six evidence-based strategies set out by
the Taskforce to reduce drug deaths and drug harms
The taskforce, which has now been operating for a year, also
launched a new website to inform stakeholders, service
providers, people who use drugs and their families on their
work.
In addition, a new strategy to tackle stigma will encourage a
more informed and compassionate approach towards people who
use drugs and their families. Over its first year it has
gathered evidence which shows stigma is one of the main
factors preventing people from seeking treatment.
Public Health Minister said:
“I want to thank Professor Catriona Matheson and all the
members of Scotland’s Drug Deaths Taskforce for their hard
work in its first year.
“This is not a problem with a quick solution and I know they
have spent many hours gathering evidence about the true
extent of this emergency and developing and implementing
strategies to tackle it. This funding will enable it to act
using what it has learned from individuals’ lived
experiences.
“I’ve travelled all over the country meeting as many people
who use drugs and service providers as possible and I have
been told repeatedly that stigma is a real barrier to people
accessing treatment.
“Stigma can come from many sources, but most damaging is
self-stigma where people believe they are not worthy of
support. It is costing lives every day in Scotland and I
believe this new strategy will help us tackle what is
undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges we face.”
Professor Catriona Matheson, Chair of the Drug Deaths
Taskforce, said:
“Since the taskforce first met in September 2019, we have
been urgently reviewing evidence of what can best address
Scotland’s unique challenge, and putting that evidence in
action.
“The Annual Report details our progress in identifying
critical lines of enquiry and actions to take us forward. The
taskforce recognises that we all need to get away from a
search for a mythical, single, magic bullet and towards a
programme of implemented strategies that not only works but
engenders a new level of trust, sharing and collaboration in
Scotland’s key agencies. We believe in positive, sustainable
change.”
Background
The full report and
Stigma Strategy
are available on the new Drug Deaths Taskforce
website.
Details of the 10 research projects sharing the £1 million
funding can be found here.
