By Professor John Robertson
Why is the above happening?
In major part for this reason:
After a pilot phase ending in 2018, the Scottish Government began to embed Naloxone opioid overdose reversal kits across NHS Scotland. Shortly after, the kits which can be administered by anyone, were adopted by Police Scotland, ambulances and prisons, and made available to libraries, community centres, taxi drivers and to the friends and relatives of users.
Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce a national naloxone programme, empowering individuals, families, friends and communities to reverse an opiate overdose.
Anyone in Scotland can now order a free naloxone kit from national charity Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs (SFAD) and be trained in its use.
Opioids such as those found in prescription painkillers are now responsible for 81% of all drug deaths in Scotland.
The above dramatic decline can only be attributed to this world-leading, but unknown in Scotland, initiative.
Source:
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
well done SNP
LikeLiked by 1 person
All the drugs deaths in Scotland are Drs prescribing Methadone then people taking other substances. Scottish Gov is funding £250million over 5 years for proper, total abstinence, rehab facilities. More have opened in the Borders and Dundee with more to come. More facilities are needed in the NE. Peterhead.
Grampian Health Board (unionist) was the only Health Board in Scotland that did not provide primary care for drug and alcohol issues. It had to be paid for privately. Putting up drug deaths. Less people could afford it.
Less people are taking heroin but taking cocaine. Less addictive but still toxic over time. Methadone is as bad as heroin on people’s health. Excess alcohol is more fatal to the human body over time and causes addiction problems and crime. Gov can use measures to restrict alcohol sales or use. Alcohol deaths are down. MUP.
People should be in proper, total abstinence facilities rather than prison for mild misdeamenours. Crime is linked to alcohol and drug addiction. Making people well keeps them alive and saves monies on the SNHS and other services.Helps prevent earlier death.
More young people are coming forward for help. Councils (unionists) are prescribing methadone as a policy instead of funding services properly. Social care. Some Social workers do not support proper rehab care. They are Head of drug social services. A cocktail of self harm and death.
The UK has the highest prison numbers in the EU per proportion. Austerity put up crime and knife deaths in London S/E. Increased 200 a year. There were 500 murders in the UK on average. The numbers went up to 700. Now declining.
Most murders are committed by white males. Women are murdered in abusive situations by someone they know. Women who cohabit, the majority, do not get legal aid. They have to stay in abusive self harm situations because they cannot get away. No legal aid. Legal aid has to be paid back in any case.
LikeLike
Liver transplant and other treatments are costly. They are predicted to increase. Excesssive drug and alcohol use are deadly and costly. In death and funding.
Obesity is the next health problem and will cause early death. Sanction should be put on the food industry to make healthier food. A higher sugar tax has lead less consumption of sugar. Fat in food should be taxed or banned. Toxic fat. A healthier diet encourages longer life. Reducing poverty extends health and life. A healthier life style. Austerity and Covid has led to higher death rates. Scottish Gov does not have total control over reserved matter.
LikeLiked by 1 person