Four new drug and alcohol workers are to be sent to two parts of Kilmarnock and other areas of East Ayrshire in a bid to prevent deaths.
It comes as East Ayrshire has the third-highest number of drug deaths in Scotland, according to most recent figures.
Two recruits will cover Kilmarnock north-west and Shortlees.
Another worker will be based at both Dalmellington and Bellsbank while a third will be assigned to Cumnock.
The new employees will be former drug users or have experience of complex needs and must be willing to share their experiences.
The peer outreach workers will try to engage with and help people struggling with addiction. The aim is to assist them to access services.
It is estimated 800 problem drug users are not in touch with services in the area – and they are are at a higher risk of dying from taking illicit substances.
A cabinet meeting today signed off how the new community peer outreach service for East Ayrshire will operate.
The post holders will be acting as a link between traditional services and the communities where they are based, the meeting heard.
Linda Surgenor, senior manager at the health and social care partnership, said: “We want them to be known recognised faces – it won’t have the same level of impact if they don’t have a recognised face.
“They need to be known so they have a degree of kudos within the local community and respect perhaps.”
The service will run for two years at a cost of £141,229 for the first 12 months and £135,229 in the second.
A council report said: “Community outreach by peers is a model well established in other areas and has been evaluated and is highlighted by the drug death taskforce as effective.
“From discussions with partners and stakeholders this model is supported as a new initiative in East Ayrshire.”
The contract for the service has been awarded to CVO to act as an agent between the council on behalf of the East Ayrshire health and social care partnership and the voluntary sector.
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