Funds allocated to increase capacity for drugs services

Funding to get more people into treatment has been outlined by the Scottish Government as part of efforts to help tackle Scotland’s drugs deaths emergency.

At Holyrood on Thursday, drugs policy minister Angela Constance said that an additional £14.4m will be invested in frontline services.

Constance explained that much of the funding will go towards supporting alcohol and drug partnerships and third sector organisations in developing their workforce and improving capacity.

The funding is part of the £50m already pledged to address drugs deaths by the Scottish Government this year.

Latest figures indicate that more than 1200 people died in Scotland in 2019 as a result of drug misuse – the highest annual figure on record.

“This announcement sets out how the £50m additional funding announced for this year will be spent on improving and saving lives,” Constance told MSPs.

“And it is vital that those working on the frontline have the necessary resources to meet the needs of drug users who seek help and their families.

“Much of the additional funding I have announced will support alcohol and drug partnerships and third sector organisations to develop their workforce and improve capacity.”

Constance said she is “determined” that every penny of the additional funding will make a difference to those affected by drug use in Scotland.

She said: “We want to increase the number of people in treatment and £4m will go specifically towards the implementation of the new MAT standards which ensure everyone has access to the support which works best for them.

“Same day support will begin to be rolled out from this autumn with all of the standards in place by April next year.”

The minister added: “Over the next five years we will spend £250m on addressing this crisis, £100m of which will go on improving the provision of residential rehabilitation and I will update parliament on progress in this area after the summer recess.

“I am determined that every penny of this additional funding will make a difference to all those affected by drug use in Scotland.”