Transcript Taking Action on Scotland’s Drug

Taking Action on Scotland’s Drug-Related
Deaths
Glasgow 8 August 2005
Who is Doing What in
Scotland? An Overview.
Mike McCarron
National Officer, Association of Drug
Action Teams in Scotland
High Harm Drug Users
Complex Human Beings
• Smothering pain
• Consumers in illegal social networks
• High risk takers
• Low in social and economic capital
Inequality Kills (Richard Wilkinson, The Impact of Inequality)
Government
Tackling Inequality
• Children and families
• Education and employment
• Housing and community support
The Public
Knowing the Facts
• KTS Launch of cocaine and heroin publicity
• A Hierarchy of Harm?
• E.g. Alcohol and Tobacco deaths
Making Personal Choices
Supporting Social Policies?
Shifts in Problems/Scale/Consensus
DATs’ Responsibility & Accountability
• National Target ( 25% reduction by
2005)
• Corporate Action Plan Information
• 2001 onwards – big service expansion
e.g. methadone, social support,
criminal justice
• Supporting families of drug users
DATs
Services which help – “Meaning what you say”
A Homelessness Shelter
• Intervention – engagement – involvement – relationship
– responsibility
• Time to observe, reflect, evaluate
• Connecting to other opportunities
Re Targets to increase client access
• Balancing increased numbers & the provision of really
helpful services
DAT Drug Death Prevention
Activity Scotland wide
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Critical Incidents Groups
Database to improve care pathways e.g. prisons
Improved linkages with A&E services
Improved witness/emergency intervention at scene
of overdose
• Consideration about naloxone
• Staff training
Particular Work by DATs
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Argyll & Clyde
Ayrshire & Arran
Grampian
Greater Glasgow
Forth Valley
Lanarkshire
Drug Deaths in Scotland (GROS)
Some Facts (with caveat)
1996-1999
1008 deaths
2000-2003
1323 deaths
Change
+ 315 (31%)
dr. preval @ 2000
av drd/yr for 96-99
dr. preval @ 2003
av drd/yr for 00-03
1:221
1:156
Some Outcomes by NHS Board
Areas
NHS Board
Change
DRD:Preval
Borders
0%
1:680
Tayside
- 27%
1:288
Lothian
- 7%
1: 192
DAT Association
Follow up DATA, SACDM & National
Investigation Reports
• Practice interchange between DATs
• Membership of a Scottish Preventing DRDs
Forum?
Final Thoughts
• Wide and forward ranging scenario/policy
examination
• Focussed and reality based service interventions
and targets
• Vending machines – etc.