Scotland to invest in residential rehabilitation for drug users

The Scottish Government plans to commit £100m to residential rehabilitation treatments, as a new review shows this can reduce substance use and improve health and quality of life.

Residential treatments involve round the clock care from a medical team, removes stressors and opportunities to access drugs and provides space for specialist treatment and counselling.

Research shows this leads to better mental health outcomes, less offending and improvements in social engagement and employment, but few studies focus on this area so a need for more research was emphasised in the report.

Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said: ‘Getting people into the treatment and recovery that is right for them at the right time is at the core of our national mission to save and improve lives and residential rehabilitation is one of a wide range of options.

‘The findings of this review are encouraging and support our decision to allocate £100 million to residential rehabilitation over the course of this parliament. We have increased funding to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to improve access to residential rehabilitation and are clear it should be part of a full range of drug prevention and treatment services available in all local authority areas.

‘We are also investing a further £10 million per year to support the delivery of Medication Assisted Treatment standards over the next four years, which mean people who use drugs receive help the day they ask for it, regardless of where they live.’

Drug deaths in Scotland reached record levels in 2020, with 1,339 people killed, the highest per capita rate of drug deaths in Europe at 25.2 fatalities per 100,000 people.

However, latest figures show an 8% decrease since then, with 1,295 drug deaths recorded in 2021.

A national mission to reduce drug related deaths and harms was announced by Nicola Sturgeon in January 2021, which is supported by £50m in funding each year.

Photo by Hennie Stander