AS the Scottish Government seeks to address the continued growth in drug-related deaths in Scotland, we must all try to remember that every one of the 867 people who died in this way in 2016, had a very personal and human story. They had parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, and very often children too, so that the pain spreads through the generations.
As an expert representing those at the frontline of addiction treatment and support, David Liddell rightly points out the importance amongst other things of proper resourcing of the projects that have been shown to work (“Reforming our drug treatment strategy is the only way to reduce fatalities”, The Herald, August 16). This is critical because while the problems in this area have not arisen overnight, there has undoubtedly been a negative impact from the squeeze on local authority-funded social care projects over recent years, with addiction-related services too often coming off worst. This is not surprising given some of the attitudes that persist around support for a section of society that is caught in a cycle of self-harm, that some might consider their own “fault”. Yet the harm being done by drug abuse spreads out across society, through the families of those struggling with addiction, as well as the associated crime and social behaviours that can have such a corrosive impact on communities.
Drug addiction is a human problem, that those who govern us have a responsibility to address with an open mind and a determination to make available the funding to do the job effectively, not simply a provision of the box-ticking variety. Those working to reverse the trends in drug-related harm can only succeed if given the resources they need.
Keith Howell,
White Moss, West Linton, Peeblesshire.
NATIONAL Records of Scotland inform us that there were 867 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2016 (“Drug deaths reach record tolls as addicts shun services”, The Herald, August 16). The same source informs us that there were 1,265 alcohol-related deaths in Scotland in 2016. Why the separate totals? Alcohol is a drug which is killing more people than street drugs. Total deaths attributable to drugs, including alcohol, in 2016 are 2,132.
Why is alcohol a special (separate) case? Those who die are equally dead. Is there a desire to try to avoid besmirching the reputation of a lucrative export by separating deaths from street drugs from deaths due to alcohol? The figures are in the public domain, but split presentation requires comment. Perhaps another example of spin by a devious SNP Government which has much about which to be devious.
Dr William Durward,
20 South Erskine Park, Bearsden.
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