Progress towards these targets are reported in the interim monitoring reports on statutory funded residential rehab placements published by Public Health Scotland (PHS). As part of the National Mission evaluation, PHS published the first residential rehab evaluation report in February 2024. Drug Research Network Scotland published a stimulant dependence rapid review (September 2024) to examine evidence on treatments for stimulant use.
This can be achieved through legalising and responsibly regulating drug markets. It’s a worrying time for many people and we want to be there for you whenever – and wherever – you need us. Cancer Chat is our fully moderated forum where you can talk to others affected by cancer, share experiences, and get support. The list includes chemotherapy, hormone therapies, targeted cancer drugs, immunotherapy drugs and bisphosphonates.
As recommended by the Drug Deaths Taskforce, we published the drugs and alcohol workforce action plan 2023 to 2026 in December 2023. This sets out the actions to be taken to develop a sustainable, trauma informed, skilled workforce with the capacity to deliver a person centred, rights-based approach. The Residential Rehabilitation Development Group (RRDWG), established in June 2020, to advise on the provision of drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation services across Scotland. The RRDWG published recommendations on drug and alcohol residential treatment services (December 2020).
Notably these groups include homeless people and those living in buy drugs online certain institutions, such as prisons. Broken down by drug type, those earning less than £10,400 per year were most likely to have used cannabis (13.2%). For more detailed figures on frequency of drug use, see Section 2 of the accompanying dataset. Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed no change in the overall level of any drug use (see Glossary for definition) in the last year for the year ending June 2022 compared with the year ending March 2020. Some drugs can also slow you down or give you more energy which can make your blood sugar levels go high or low. For small amounts eg reference standards, testing laboratories etc a secure cabinet or small safe is sufficient, but commercial amounts need to be kept in safe custody stores such as prefabricated strong rooms.
The CSEW does not cover some small groups, which is potentially important, given that they may have relatively high rates of drug use. Notably these groups include homeless people and those living in certain institutions, such as prisons. The CSEW data for the year ending March 2023 are not National Statistics and caution must be taken when using these data. Those with household incomes of less than £10,400 per year were more likely to use any drug in the last year (13.6%), and in particular cannabis (11.6%), than those with higher incomes. The only exception in both instances being those earning between £10,400 and £20,800 (Figure 6).
9 December Extent and trends in illicit drug use among a sample of people aged 16 to 59 years. Previous Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) drug use publications can be found on the Home Office website.
Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) treatment can be effective in reducing drug deaths and harm, as outlined in the OST Evidence Review. Non-fatal overdoses are a good indicator that someone is at risk of going on to experience a fatal overdose, so these individuals need to be a priority for follow up and additional support. Non-Fatal Overdose Pathways and outreach work are crucial to connect people to the right services. The Drug Death Taskforce stressed that harm reduction was a key element of the strategy for reducing drug related deaths. The Scottish Government published a drug law reform paper (July 2023) proposing harm reduction as a key underlying principle for future drugs policy.
Alongside the national testing laboratory they will feed additional information into our wider drug RADAR surveillance system. We intend to commission an independent evaluation that will cover the three sites and the National Testing Laboratory. To find out what we do with your personal data, read the Bristol Drug and Alcohol Services Privacy Notice. If you live in Bristol and you need support for yourself, a young person, friend, family member or if you’re a professional who needs to make a referral, Horizons Bristol have a team of experts available. If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.