Thousands will walk through Inverness tomorrow in a bid to inspire others to beat their drug habits.
Scottish Government minister Joe FitzPatrick will meet people battling back from addiction at the Recovery Walk Scotland.
The event comes just days after the first meeting of the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce in Edinburgh, where three new members – each with lived experience of drug addiction – were unveiled.
The Taskforce – set up after a campaign in the Daily Record – will seek to reverse the appalling trend that has seen Scotland become Europe’s drug deaths capital.
The walk has been organised to celebrate those who have recovered from substance use and mental health issues – and make recovery visible.
Jardine Simpson, chief executive of co-organisers the Scottish Recovery Consortium, urged people to attend.
He said: “With this year’s drug deaths, alcohol deaths and suicides reaching record highs, it’s imperative we all get together.
“We have taken this year’s Recovery Walk Scotland to its mostly northerly location to show that recovery is happening all over Scotland, with communities and people with lived experience helping others develop and build positive, contributing lives.”
Last year, about 3000 people took part in Recovery Walk Scotland in Glasgow.
