A brand new report has revealed a pointy drop within the variety of drug deaths in Stirling in 2021 - however campaigners are urging warning over the problem.
The info from the Nationwide Data of Scotland, launched on Friday, confirmed a small drop within the variety of drug-related fatalities throughout Scotland for the primary time since 2013.
In Stirling, the drug loss of life complete has nearly halved in a yr from 31 in 2020 to 16 in 2021, with a basic price of 21.2 per 100,000 of inhabitants.
The lower nationally can also be mirrored within the figures within the area, with the 69 drug deaths in Forth Valley in 2021 a fall from the 2020 determine of 77.
Nonetheless, one native councillor and campaigner believes there may be nonetheless extra to be achieved in lowering the drug loss of life toll within the metropolis additional.
Bannockburn consultant Alasdair Macpherson mentioned: “The drop in deaths in Stirling is welcome information, nonetheless any claims that issues are getting in any method higher will not be echoed by these I converse to.
“Of the 16 who died in Stirling final yr, I obtained to know a minimum of half of them and understand how their deaths has impacted their households. Quite a lot of these individuals died as a result of the face-to-face assist from varied our bodies who're paid thousands and thousands in public cash was withdrawn due to Covid.
“I've been instructed that a few of these teams are nonetheless not again to 100 per cent face-to-face assist.
“Households really feel that their family members deaths had been avoidable. Quite a few companies have been set as much as assist individuals with addictions, however I've been instructed on a number of events that they individuals who run them are troublesome to contact, aloof and fully lack compassion and understanding.
“Nationally we see rolling out extra experiences, suggestions, committees and dealing teams which are nicely trodden will not be adequate to halt this appalling disaster.
“We have now noticed thousands and thousands wasted on a Process Drive that overseen a rise in drug associated deaths, whose members you would have picked from any who’s who listing of people that oversaw the last decade or so enhance in deaths.
“We will’t simply cease at what number of people now we have stopped dying both. That’s a horrible measurement. What number of go on to get better to discover a life once more?”
Sandy Reynolds from the Stirling Salvation Military - who assist a few of these dwelling with dependancy - expressed optimism that assist was returning to regular after the pandemic.
He mentioned: “The entire companies are again up and operating now and only for us, much more persons are coming to us for assist - we’ve had extra within the final six months than up to now two years.
“Everyone seems to be sort of rallying collectively now and with extra individuals searching for assist, there are extra companies on the market now to provide that assist; plenty of the companies have additionally had time to sit down and realise what wanted to be achieved in another way to assist individuals.
“Quite a lot of it's nearly offering somebody to speak to and giving them a shoulder to lean on and to assist them with kinds and different daunting issues, in addition to providing referrals on to someplace else.
“The partnership working between ourselves and different organisations has been actually good and that didn’t occur earlier than.”
Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed mentioned: “It is very important keep in mind that behind these statistics are actual individuals and my ideas are with the family members of those that have handed away.
“While the drop in drug deaths in Stirling is encouraging, the general nationwide image stays gravely regarding. That is one thing the Scottish Authorities takes critically, with a quantity suggestions from earlier experiences being introduced in to sort out the problem.
“These embody the enlargement of the police naloxone pilot, safer drug consumption amenities, drug checking amenities and Remedy Assisted Remedy (MAT) requirements – all measures that are already being progressed.
“The Drug Deaths Taskforce was established to supply professional recommendation on the emergency response to rising drug associated deaths in Scotland and the Taskforce’s closing report was revealed two weeks in the past. I welcome the Scottish Authorities’s dedication to contemplate the suggestions intimately.”