The Scottish Government has launched a new fund with the aim of reducing drug deaths.
John Swinney is set to address a summit on drugs deaths in Edinburgh on Friday where he will announce the Alcohol and Drugs Fund, which will provide £36.9 million to frontline services and organisations.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Mr Swinney has said the funding will aim to reach organisations of “all sizes”.
He said: “This new fund will provide more than £36 million over the next three years, supporting prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.
“It will reach organisations of all sizes – from grassroots groups to larger partnerships – with particular emphasis on improving support for children, young people, and families. I have heard from the third sector about the need for stability and longer-term support – this multi-year funding recognises that.”
The summit is organised by Public Health Scotland and will be attended by health board chief executives, local authority leaders, justice representatives and third-sector partners alongside people with experience of drug and alcohol use.
I am clear there should be a 'no wrong door' approach. If someone needs help, our system should be easy and quick to navigate - wrapping around the person rather than making people fit into the system
Mr Swinney said: “We have increased residential rehab capacity, with funded placements now close to our 1,000 target, set new treatment standards, opened The Thistle – the UK’s first safer drug consumption facility – and improved surveillance of the most potent and dangerous drugs entering circulation.
“But it is clear we now require a different collective approach and we need to go further. I am determined we make the change and new ways of working needed – and I am focused on confronting the need for reform of how our public services deliver.
“I am clear there should be a ‘no wrong door’ approach. If someone needs help, our system should be easy and quick to navigate – wrapping around the person rather than making people fit into the system.”
The fund is open to third-sector organisations and public bodies working directly with people who use alcohol and drugs, people in recovery, and their children and families.
It is part of the delivery of the Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan, which is a joint Scottish Government and COSLA initiative with a 10-year approach to reducing deaths and harms caused by alcohol and drugs.