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Scotland has a long tradition of alcohol and drug abuse. This harms neighborhoods, households, and lives, and adds to violence and criminal offense.

A lot of those impacted will have experienced hard life situations, and are amongst the most susceptible and marginalized in society, based on preconception since of their dependency.

It is approximated that drug abuse expenses society ₤ 3.5 billion a year while the effect of alcohol abuse is approximated to cost ₤ 3.6 billion a year – integrated, this is around ₤ 1,800 for each grownup in Scotland.

Actions

  • enhancing treatment for alcohol and drugs reliance through financial investment and nationwide waiting times targets
  • informing youths about the dangers and threats related to alcohol and drug abuse
  • assisting individuals to alter their drinking behavior through our Alcohol Behaviour Modification project
  • making inexpensive alcohol less readily available through a restriction on multi-buy promos and strategies to present a minimum rate per system of alcohol
  • taking forward action to reduce the beverage driving limitation in Scotland and present a brand-new drug driving offense
  • establishing legislation to enhance the operation and clarify of the present alcohol licensing legislation and to take forward the dedication to make it an offense to provide alcohol to under-18s in a public location
  • Lowering the threat of drug-related deaths by supporting the roll-out and embedding of the world’s very first nationwide naloxone program into mainstream NHS programs.
  • interfering with the supply of drugs into neighborhoods as part of our work to take on severe organized criminal offense
  • Dealing with the Office and authorities in Scotland to deal with the supply and determine of psychedelic compounds (called ‘legal highs’).
  • Examining the readily available powers to take on the sale and amount of brand-new psychedelic compounds or \’ legal highs \’ through a professional evaluation group.

Background

 The Method for Justice in Scotland sets out our method to make the Scottish justice system suitable for the 21st century.

In 2008, we released the nationwide drugs technique for Scotland, The Roadway to Healing. This set out brand-new tactical instructions for dealing with issue substance abuse, based upon treatment services promoting healing.

Current favorable proof consists of:

Drug-taking in the basic population is falling – the findings from the 2014/15 Scottish Criminal Offense and Justice Study (released 28 June 2016) revealed that the variety of grownups, aged 16-59, who reported substance abuse in the in 2015 reduced from 6.2% in 2012/13 to 6.0% in 2014/15 (7.6% in the 2008/09 study).

Reported substance abuse has succumbed to both women and males in between 2008/09 and 2014/15, with a decline in reported illegal substance abuse in the in 2015 from 11.1% in contrast to 8.9% among males, and a decrease from 4.3% to 3.4% among ladies.

In 2009, we released Scotland’s nationwide alcohol structure which details a variety of steps to deal with issue alcohol usage. A development report was released in 2012.

Costs and legislation

The category and control of ‘regulated drugs’ in the UK is scheduled to the UK Federal government.

The Alcohol Minimum Rates Scotland Act 2012 was passed on June 2012 and will lead the way for the intro of a chosen minimum rate of 50p per system of alcohol. The Act is presently being appealed in the courts.

 

You don’t need to be in the dark when looking for options in recovery. Alcohol addiction is a serious problem. It cannot be solved through self-will alone. We are glad that you are actively looking for help. Here is a compilation of places that offer the best resources to aid your recovery process.

Ocean Recovery

This facility offers medically assisted detox, inpatient care and outpatient support. It is proud of its Cognitive Behavioural approach and holistic therapy options. It is called “Ocean Recovery” because its location is near the North Beach. It is widely believed that being near the ocean is therapeutic and can bring a sense of calm.

 

Edinburgh Rehab Centre

This facility offers medically assisted detox, inpatient care and outpatient support. Alcohol rehab Edinburgh also has affiliations with AA as part of its aftercare function.

 

Rehab 4 Addiction

This is a referral service for alcohol and drug addiction treatments. The first experience you will have with the service is an assessment phone call. This call is free of charge and intends to give Rehab 4 Addiction an idea or where to refer you to. Their website is easy to navigate and has an active chatbox.

 

ADT Healthcare

This is another advisory and referral service, much like Rehab 4 Addiction. ADT is connected with accredited clinics that pass Scotland’s Care Inspectorate’s standards.

 

Castle Craig Hospital

This facility boasts that 98% of its clients are happy with their services. Relapse happens, but 73% of clients who enter the program stay sober. Offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy, equine-assisted therapy (animal assisted therapy), physical therapy, art class and mindfulness meditation programs, they promote overall healing. Mental health problems run alongside drinking problems. Castle Criag wishes to focus not just on addiction recovery, but the other issues that come with it as well.

Another claim they have is that they are “20% and 50%” cheaper than their closest competitor. In their website, they prominently feature a step-by-step guide to get government funding for their residential addiction treatment program. As usual, they present to the public options for medical detox, inpatient care and outpatient options. One of their biggest selling-point is their beautiful location—the privacy of 50 acres of countryside land. Once you decide to seek treatment here, your privacy is guaranteed. The hospital’s area is only accessed through a private country road. The fresh air and the greenery is sure to promote better physical, if not mental health.

 

Abbeycare Scotland & The North Clinic

Aside from supervised medical detox, inpatient and outpatient services and aftercare options, Abbeycare Scotland features Holistic and Alternative Treatments. One thing it that distinguishes it from other rehabs is that it offers Private Alcohol Home Detox Treatment. This option is geared towards people who have a difficult time leaving home to get the hurdle the first, crucial step in the recovery process. There are also individually tailored plans for people who want personalised services. The clinic is located at the Murdostoun Castle. The grounds comprise of 40 acres of land, which helps with privacy.

 

Serenity Addiction Centres

This clinic has two locations, one is Glasgow and Perth. Aside from the usual services (medically supervised detox, inpatient and outpatient care), this center has  dedicated options for Process Addictions. Process addictions are behavioural problems in which a person uses a behaviour like a drug—people can be addicted to gambling or shopping, for example. In this facility, there are specialist capable of diagnosing and treating these co-occurring disorders

 

Edinburgh Alcohol And Drug Partnership

This website has a lot of resources you can use to help you manage your alcohol addiction and find addiction help Edinburgh. There are reading materials you can download, an app called “ARC-Edinburgh” and a list of on-line support groups. There is a link to the Scottish Drug Services Directory, to point you to the nearest service in your area.

 

Local Services Through NHS

Recently, there has been a drop of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland. There was also a drop of alcohol sales in 2019. Many people credit this to the government’s decision to make alcohol more expensive. Scotland’s Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says, “There are, on average, 22 alcohol-specific deaths every week in Scotland, and 683 hospital admissions.”

Freeman also said, “Given the clear and proven link between consumption and harm, minimum unit pricing is the most effective and efficient way to tackle the cheap, high-strength alcohol that causes so much harm to so many families.” Although Scottish people buy more alcohol than people in Wales or England, it looks like the government is on the right path to curbing alcohol misuse.

Here is a list of are Recovery Hubs run by the government that service a particular area. There is a “No Wrong Door” policy in place, so if you go to a centre and you do not belong to the area, you will still be assisted. You do not need to set an appointment, just show up.

  • North East Edinburgh: Leith, Craigmillar
  • North West Edinburgh: Muirhouse, Clermistion, and South Queensferry
  • South West Edinburgh: Gorgie or Dalry, Westerhailes
  • South East Edinburgh: Spittal Street, Liberton or Gilmerton
  • City Centre (for evening drop-ins)

Here are some motivating tips to get you started in recovery:

  • Consider what pain alcohol is causing you – financially, physically and emotionally
  • You will be safer, your family will be safer, without alcohol. Sometimes alcohol makes us do dangerous things that we do not mean to do. Rehab means you are pushing against the possibility of harming others through your addiction.
  • You will have new personal relationships when you go to rehab. You will not feel as lonely as you are feeling now.
  • You can work at your own pace, because you are an individual with your own specific problems. There are many types of people in recovery and your journey is unique to you. People won’t judge you as hard as you think.
  • A lot of people are genuinely out to help you. Your family, your close friends will be there for you if you give them a chance.
  • You are worth recovering from your addiction. There is hope for you, and there is a future too.
  • You can be the person you want to be, even if you are not sure now who this person is.
  • It all begins with one step, and the rest will get easier.

 

The number of deaths caused by drugs in Scotland has increased. The National Records of Scotland’s official records in 2018 reported a 27% increase from the previous year’s figures. Most of the deaths were from people aged 35-44, the so-called “Trainspotting Generation.” Because it has reached the 1000 threshold, the public is outraged.

 

Officially the body count is 1,187. The highest number of deaths was reported in Dundee City, Glasgow, and Inverclyde.

 

The number of deaths related to drugs has overtaken the number of deaths related to alcohol consumption.

 

Effectively, Scotland is now Europe’s drug death capital. Traditionally, Scotland has a reputation as a hard-drinking nation. Because of the rising trend of drug deaths, Scottish people are recognizing that they have a national crisis. Addiction centres such as Edinburgh Rehab Centre are seeing increasing numbers of enquiries for alcohol and drug addiction.

 

War on drugs not working

 

Under the law, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, possessing “controlled drugs”, supplying and selling controlled drugs are illegal acts. This does not stop drug use, abuse and drug-related deaths. Law enforcers have remarked that they have lost the war on drugs.

 

Banning the use, distribution and possession of drugs has done nothing to prevent deaths.

 

There is a public move to change public policies regarding drugs, including the plan to decriminalise drug use and possession. So far, though, the Drug Deaths Task Force set by the government is still set to review the Misuse Drugs Act.

 

The Drug Deaths Taskforce was set up in July 2019 by the Minister for Public Health and Sport. It is chaired by Professor Catriona Matheson has expressed the need to loosen the punitive attitude towards drug possession in Scotland.

Further, she added that putting drug users in prison only marginalises them. By de-criminalising, more efforts and resources can be channelled towards treatment programmes.

 

The Drug Task force is newly set up. It could take a while to for dramatic changes to take place. It is clear that government is taking action now. For example, in Dundee there is a RAPID (Response Against Prescription and Illegal Drugs) bin scheme which allows people to dispose of drugs in a safe way.

 

As of current time, decriminalisation has not yet been implemented. Many experts believe that this is the way to move forward with the nation’s drive against drug-related deaths. Aside from decriminalisation, using drug consumptions rooms have been proven effective in reducing drug-related deaths.

 

The theory behind this method is backed by scientific evidence that they are effective. In countries such as Germany and Netherlands, for instance, drug consumption rooms have been able to:

  • Reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C
  • Reduce deaths through over dose
  • Encourage people who use drugs to seek treatment

 

Quoting Ronnie Cowan, of the Scottish National Party (Inverclyde), “No country that has adopted Drug Consumption Rooms has ever regretted it and subsequently closed them. Switzerland and Spain have closed DCRs, but only because the need for them reduced significantly—they were so successful that they put themselves out of business.”

 

What is fuelling drug-related deaths?

The use of “Street Valiums” has accounted for two thirds of drug deaths through overdose. These pills are touted as “Scotland’s little helper”. Originally nicknamed “Mother’s little helper” by a Beatles’ song, street valium is very different from real Valium. In a BBC interview, an addict named “Billy” sketches the kids of Valiums he has seen on sale on the streets.

 

Clearly, these are not the Benzodiazepine medications that are legally prescribed to ease symptoms of anxiety and depression. These are illegal, fake Valiums produced from Do-it-yourself drug factories; they are widely trafficked in Scotland.

 

Police have confiscated huge amounts and varieties of these drugs they call “Street Valium”. Cheaper than heroin, addicts prefer using them because they buy more of them using the same amount of money than other drugs. Street Valium is also very easy to procure.

 

Young Street Gangs have are seen as responsible for their distribution. This means that somebody as young as sixteen years old can supply you street Valium if you are looking for it in Scotland.

 

Poly-drug use means using different drugs together. Combining Street Valium is lethat and has driven the number of deaths to climb. The most dangerous and common combinations are:

  • Street Valium + crack cocaine
  • Street Valium + methadone
  • Street Valium + heroin
  • Street Valium + alcohol

 

It must be remarked that most of the people who have methadone in their bodies while using Street Valium were under treatment from addiction. Methadone is NHS’s major solution for addiction treatment. Obviously, it is not cost-effective nor efficient.

 

What about the so-called “Trainspotting Generation”, whose numbers compose the majority of those who died? New research pinpoints the characteristics of those who belong to this group: these are mostly men who were born between the years 1960-1980, living in the poorest areas of Scotland.

 

They also have mental health and physical health issues; having been addicted for a long time, their health has naturally deteriorated.

 

Now in mid-life, the Trainspotting Generation has gradually built tolerance for the drugs they abuse. When drug tolerance occurs, a person needs more and more of the drug to feel any pleasurable effects. In fact, a lot of addicted people do not feel anything good when they take drugs.

 

Taking them just makes them feel normal. If they stop, they cannot function. This is the true definition of drug dependence. Over time, drug users need higher and higher dosages to feel any effect from the drug. Eventually, they use too much and overdose.

 

As dangerous as it is, there is another factor that adds to the threat. Since Street Valium is not made using standard processes, the amount of active components in the drug is not predictable. In one batch it could be strong, in another batch, it could be weak or stronger.

 

Taking these street Valiums is like playing Russian Roulette. Considering that most users take up to 30 pills a day, we can see how risky it is if a user ends up with the potent types.

 

So far, decriminalising drug use and putting up Drug Consumption Rooms appear to be the most effective solutions in solving Scotland’s drug crisis. The government needs to change methods that do not work or it will continue to see its citizen die of from these preventable deaths.