Half of drug survey respondents report feeling stigmatised by recovery services

Half of the respondents to a survey on drug services have reported feeling stigmatised or discriminated against in the past year, a report shows.

Public Health Scotland on Tuesday published its evaluation of the Scottish Government’s efforts to stem record drug deaths north of the border.

Ministers pledged to reduce the number of people dying from drugs after Scotland was shown to have the worst rate in Europe, and while the report found there have been improvements, it said there remain “substantial ongoing challenges”.

The report found 50% of respondents who accessed alcohol and drug recovery services (ADRS) in the past 12 months felt stigmatised or discriminated against.

While 49% reported it never happened, 7% said it always did, 9% reported it often, 20% said they sometimes felt that way and 14% said it did happen to them, but rarely.

The report also found 52% of respondents said they had received all of the help they needed, while 14% said they were receiving none of the support they required.

Despite these findings, 60% of respondents said they had received excellent or good care from their local ADRS, compared to just 19% who rated the care poor or very poor.

Some 69% of respondents also told the survey they were receiving better care now than they were two years ago, with most suggesting waiting times had improved and they were treated with more respect.

While the 19% who reported poorer services claimed they were waiting longer or were seen less frequently.

The highest level of unmet need was found in one-to-one mental health support, with 47% of respondents stating they wanted to access such treatment but were unable to in the past 12 months.

The report concluded that while some progress has been made, there continues to be “substantial ongoing challenges” in helping people get off drugs.

“The survey provides some evidence which suggests that the support experience may have improved,” the report said.

“However, the survey findings also suggest that there are substantial ongoing challenges and scope to improve the support offer.

“The evidence suggesting progress possibly argues in favour of a degree of continuity, giving time to local and national organisations to continue existing quality improvement efforts.

The SNP needs to start treating this like the emergency it is and deliver the joined-up, life-saving care people need

“However, the evidence of substantial ongoing challenges indicates that additional and more targeted focus is needed in some areas, including for example: Mental health support, including improving access to specialist mental health services and embedding trauma-informed working across services; investment in peer support and third sector, community and recovery groups; the support offer in relation to non-opioid drug use, including stimulants; the needs of groups facing additional disadvantage, including for example individuals who are homeless.”

Drugs policy minister Maree Todd welcomed the report, adding: “I am determined to ensure people affected by substance use receive the help they need to address the harm caused and save lives.

“It is critical that we listen and learn from the experiences of those who use these services and that they are consulted as we improve them.

“Our national mission contains a wide range of evidence-based measures, including widening access to treatment services and the UK’s first safer drug consumption facility pilot.

“We will use the results of this study to see what other measures we can take to improve the lives of all those affected by substance misuse.”

But Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said the report exposed the “scandal” of addiction services in Scotland.

“This stark report shows far too many Scots struggling with addiction are being let down in their hour of need,” she said.

“We are in the grips of a national drug death emergency, but barely half of those seeking help are getting the support they should – it is a scandal.

“Access to mental health support is crucial to helping people recover, but this report shows these services simply cannot cope.

“The SNP needs to start treating this like the emergency it is and deliver the joined-up, life-saving care people need.”

Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Ross described the report as “damning”, saying the fact that 29% reported not being able to access residential rehab as a “source of shame”.

Mr Ross has proposed the Right to Recovery (Scotland) Bill, which would enshrine in law the right to treatment for addiction, which he urged the minister to back.

“This report shows that little if anything has changed for Scots suffering with drug addiction since Nicola Sturgeon admitted to me that the SNP had taken their eye off the ball on drug deaths,” he said.

“The SNP should accept their current approach to tackling Scotland’s drug deaths crisis is not working given the experience of hundreds of service users.

“I hope MSPs across Parliament will work with me to ensure the Right to Recovery Bill is put into law as soon as possible to show we will act to address the clear, and deadly, failings.”

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the report laid bare the “patchwork” care available to addicts in Scotland.

“If SNP ministers are serious about tackling this issue, they need to properly support services and staff, deliver essential counselling and mental health support and introduce new drug-checking facilities,” he said.