MORE work needs to be done to tackle drug deaths in North Ayrshire, councillors have been told.
Labour councillor Louise McPhater urged North Ayrshire's health and social care partnership to support the "amazing work" carried out in communities and new help groups to prevent the death toll rising further.
That's despite the recent introduction of the the drug naloxone, carried by police and medics, which can save victims of an overdose.
According to Scottish Government figures published in December, there were 900 suspected drug deaths across Scotland in the first nine months of 2023 - up 13 per cent on the same period the previous year.
There were 1,195 suspected drug deaths recorded in Scotland over the 12 months to September 2023 - 10 per cent more than over the year to September 2022.
At a full North Ayrshire Council meeting on March 27, Cllr McPhater, who represents the Irvine West ward, asked the authority’s ruling SNP group for its response to the drug death toll.
Cllr Margaret Johnston, cabinet member for health and social care, replied: "Each of these deaths are preventable and the statistics don't illustrate the tragic impact on individuals, families, carers and communities.
"This highlights the need for all services and communities to work together to implement the national mission to prevent drug-related deaths and to improve lives.
"Recent initiatives, including the introduction of medication-assisted treatment standards are focused on increased support to individuals following a 'non-fatal’ overdose.
"Increasing the locks on supply and easier access to residential rehabilitation require to be supported by longer term solutions, including addressing inequality and poverty and the wider determinates which impact on people's health."
Cllr McPhater then asked: "Would the cabinet member then agree that the death figures from the 22/23 period from January to September showed an increase of 10 per cent.
"That's an increase of 16 per cent in males dying, and an increase of six per cent in females dying.
"Why is it that we are now on our third drugs minister and these deaths are continually rising year after year?
"There has been amazing work done by the communituies and services that previously were not there.
"Can we agree that we need to be considering that this work needs to continue to support more of our communities in delivering on this for anyone afffected by drug and alcohol addiction?"
Cllr Johnston replied that she "couldn't speak on behalf of the Scottish Government" but could supply Cllr McPhater with additonal information on action bering taken by the health and social care partnership to prevent drug related deaths.
According to figures compiled by the National Records of Scotland (NRS), 37 drug-related deaths were recorded in North Ayrshire in 2022 – two fewer than the previous year, and down from a peak of 41 in 2019.
Across Scotland, drug-related deaths dropped to 1,051 in 2022 – down from 1,330 the previous year, and the lowest since 2017.
Full NRS figures for drug deaths across Scotland’s council areas in 2023 aren’t due to be released until August.
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