NHS Lanarkshire saw the third highest number of drug-related deaths in Scotland after a 27 per cent increase in 2018.
The tragic toll across the country topped 1000 for the first time last year with a record 130 – 11 per cent of the Scottish total – in Lanarkshire.
And health chiefs conceded that “more robust action” needs to be taken, while politicians weighed in on the drugs crisis on our streets.
Gabe Docherty, NHS Lanarkshire’s director of public health, said: “The number of people who have lost their lives due to drug use is tragic and it is crucial that as an organisation, NHS Lanarkshire continues to work collectively and collaboratively with other partners to ensure that we are supporting and treating those affected by substance misuse and addressing the wider root causes of addiction.
“NHS Lanarkshire has a number of services and initiatives in place which look at reducing the number of deaths by substance misuse, which include outreach services, providing harm reduction measures and overdose awareness, delivered by the Health and Social Care Partnerships’ addictions team.
“In terms of prevalence of drug-related deaths relating to the local population, NHS Lanarkshire is below the national average and is surpassed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian.”
Mr Docherty continued: “Recent figures reported bring to head the need for more robust action and the need to ensure that we as an organisation are doing everything within our expertise that we can to support those most vulnerable and at risk.”
Of the 130 drug-related deaths in Lanarkshire, 58 were in South Lanarkshire and 72 in North Lanarkshire.
The vast majority (115) of these were classed as accidental poisoning. Other causes included intentional self-poisoning (eight), drug abuse (two) and undetermined intent (five).
Heroin or morphine was a factor in 59 of the 130 deaths while benzodiazepines (87), methadone (52), cocaine (28) and alcohol (25) were also major factors.
The figures represent a near 60 per cent increase in the last decade with just 53 drugs-related deaths recorded in Lanarkshire in 2008.
Elinor Dicki, public health intelligence advisor at NHS Health Scotland, has said that something needs to be done to reverse the trend.
She said: “For the first time, 2018 saw over a thousand drug-related deaths in Scotland.
“We should not underestimate the impact of those losses on individuals, families and communities across the country.
“Drug-related deaths are now a substantial contributor to worsening life expectancy trends. Action must be taken to address the underlying causes and improve the circumstances in which people live. Systematic changes are needed to reduce harm and save lives.
“The outcome we all want is fewer people dying at an early age, and we should do whatever it takes to ensure everyone in Scotland’s right to health.
“Sometimes that might include helping people live with their drug use whilst we tackle the more enduring issues that led them to use drugs in the first place.
“Drug-related deaths are preventable. With compassion and support from joined-up services, creating hope for people in need, and laws that seek to cut harm, we can turn the rising tide around.”
Dr Andrew McAuley, principal scientist at Health Protection Scotland, said: “We need to look beyond substances themselves if we are to reduce mortality and pursue a public health approach focused on quality of life and harm reduction.
“There is evidence of what we can do immediately to keep people safe. In particular, we have to increase capacity and retention in specialist drug treatment services to ensure rapid access to opioid substitution therapy.
“Looking further ahead, changes to legislation which would support a public health approach – for example to allow for provision of safer consumption facilities – could reduce both drug-related harms and deaths”.
Scotland’s drug deaths are now a national crisis, says a Central Scotland Labour MSP.
Monica Lennon, a former Hamilton councillor, said the status quo cannot continue.
She said: “Behind these heart-breaking numbers are devastated families who have lost sons, daughters, mothers and fathers in every part of Scotland. It’s deeply concerning that NHS Lanarkshire accounted for 11 per cent of all drug deaths in Scotland last year.
“Scotland’s drug crisis is out of control and the status quo cannot continue.
“That is why Scottish Labour has consistently called on SNP Ministers to declare a public health emergency and use every power available to them to tackle this crisis.
“But it is clear the UK Government must also reassess its approach and listen to experts and those living with substance misuse to find the best way to stop more families being left heartbroken.
“These drug deaths are preventable and Holyrood and Westminster must work together to solve this national crisis.”
A change of approach is needed to tackle the drugs problem.
That is according to Lanark & Hamilton East SNP MP Angela Crawley (below). It comes after she visited Frankfurt and Lisbon with the Health Select Committee.
There, the parliamentary delegation evaluated the drug policies in both Germany and Portugal,where they have introduced different measures to tackle addiction.
In Germany they legalised safe-consumption rooms, while Portugal decriminalised drugs.
The visit follows news that there were 58 drug-related deaths in South Lanarkshire last year, according to official statistics.
Now the Hamilton MP has called for a public health approach to drug policy and backed the idea of safe consumption rooms.
Ms Crawley said: “To tackle the scourge of drug use facing communities, we must treat people and all their complex needs, not just addiction but tackle the inequalities and traumas behind substance misuse.
“The Scottish Government has called for the devolution of powers over drug laws so that new emergency measures can be implemented. One such proposition expected to save lives is a supervised drug consumption facility in Glasgow.
“ However this was blocked by the UK government despite receiving support from the Scottish Parliament.
“Drug deaths aren’t unique to the UK, but elsewhere they’ve prompted an evidence-based response to try and save lives.
“In Germany we heard of similar problems which paved the way for sanctioned drug consumption rooms.
“The UK Government must recognise that Scotland faces an emergency and if they won’t take action, they must give Scotland the power to stop further unnecessary deaths.”
The Scottish Conservatives are calling for a cross-party summit on Scotland’s drug emergency.
Central Scotland Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell said: “It’s time we all rose to the challenge again, starting with a cross-party summit so we can begin a serious and detailed conversation about how to tackle this national emergency.
“With 1187 of our fellow Scots losing their lives to addiction last year, the need for cross-party and inter-governmental discussions to find solutions is critical.
“This is a crisis that spans political divides, so we would hope that both Scottish and UK governments are involved.”
And she added: “Rather than give first time offenders a criminal record, we think they should be asked to attend local ‘commissions’ and receive treatment, in order to stop their descent into the hell of drug dependency.
“We also want an independent review of the methadone programme and more government support for services that help addicts into rehabilitation and recover services.”
