For Justina Murray, chief executive of the charity Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, the problems do not lie with strategy or funding but with culture and delivery, especially in NHS addiction services.
“People want services that are in their own community, they can access when they need them, they’re going to be met at the door by a friendly face,” she says.
“They’re going to be treated with dignity and respect.
“That’s not necessarily the experience you’re going to have engaging with an NHS or a statutory treatment service.”
According to the latest available figures, released in September 2024, there is capacity for 513 residential rehabilitation beds in Scotland, across 25 facilities.
Only 11 of those beds are available in what are considered by the Scottish government to be very remote rural areas, although the majority of facilities do accept referrals from any part of Scotland.
I ask Jayne and Tanya about the argument that individuals and their families, rather than the state, should take more responsibility for their own choices.
“Nobody sets out in life to be a drug addict,” replies Jayne.
“Nobody chooses it. The mental health issue was what led James to try and escape reality.
“He then no longer had capacity to make his choices. He wasn’t James any more.
“These are vulnerable adults who are unable to protect themselves from danger or harm,” adds Tanya.
“Why is more not being done?”
“Something’s got to change,” agrees Jayne.
“We’re losing far too many young people.”
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