Public health chiefs have claimed a big improvement in the implementation of drug treatment reforms that were branded a “disaster” a year ago.
The controversial Medication Assisted Treatment Standards are two years behind schedule but are now being adhered to more closely by all Alcohol and Drug partnerships in Scotland.
Bosses of ADPs were warned by then drugs minister Angela Constance 12 months ago that their jobs were at threat if they failed to ensure the rights-based reforms were not offered to anyone asking for treatment for addiction.
But the update announced yesterday by Public Health Scotland reflected progress, with the first five of ten MAT Standards being implemented in 66 per cent of Scotland’s 29 ADPs.
Last year the figure was a miserable 17 per cent and political opponents yesterday claimed that today’s situation represents a scarcely better performance.
For the remaining five standards, 88% were partially implemented.
Current drugs and alcohol policy minister Elena Whitham claimed the progress will help bring down our nation’s shocking drug death rate, which is the worst in Europe and has shown signs of rising again recently.
But she did acknowledge that major improvement is needed, with a third of ADPs failing to implement the first five MAT Standards
Whitham said: “We now know that MAT Standards numbers one to five were implemented in two thirds of ADP areas, which is a huge increase on where we were at last year.
“So services are starting to implement the systems and cultural change that’s needed to drive forward the change. But we accept there is still a lot of work to do.”
The first five MAT Standards include a pledge to offer on-the-day treatment, as well as allowing patients to choose whether they want methadone or an alternative.
ADPs are reporting that many more Scots are now on buprenorphine, which only needs to be taken once a month and can leave users feeling more clear-headed.
Helen Barrie , a community recovery worker on the Gorbals area of Glasgow, said the changes enforced on ADPs by the MAT reforms are already having major effects.
She said: “By last year we were already seeing a better performance in terms of offering same day treatment but service users are now getting a proper understanding of what is available to them.”
Helen, 55, who has personal history of heroin addiction in her twenties, said: “We dealt with a man in his sixties at our drop-in service, who had recently started using heroin again.
“He was given an appointment with a nurse practitioner on the day and he was able to have a proper discussion about what treatment would work for him.
“He chose Buvidal, a buprenorphine treatment, which was very uncommon a couple of years ago.
“Many of our service users have regarded this as a game-changer and I believe that if this man’s experience was repeated across Scotland we would see great benefits.
“It was people with experience who drew up the MAT Standards and there’s no doubt they will be hugely helpful if they are fully implemented.”
Elena Whitham faced a barrage of criticism as she presented the latest results on MAT progress to Parliament.
Labour’s health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “Today’s report shows that, once again, the Scottish Government has failed to deliver on its promises to tackle this drug deaths emergency.
“Three drugs ministers in four years and none of them have made a dent on the problem.”
Baillie’s colleague Claire Baker described the MAT Standards a “disaster” when the equivalent report was published 12 months ago.
Tory drugs spokesperson Sue Webber added: “The minister may be heartened by these figures but I am utterly dismayed.
“Today’s analysis lays bare the failure of this SNP government. A full third of standards one to five have not been implemented despite the promise of 100 per cent implementation.”
Duncan McCormick, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Scotland, welcomed the improved results.
He said: “This continued improvement in implementing the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards is a direct result of hard work and collaboration within and between Alcohol and Drug Partnerships - including clinical colleagues, third sector partners, and people with lived and living experience. “There has also been a significant shift in culture and this has helped to overcome many barriers to change.
“Over the coming year the priority will be full, equitable and sustained implementation of all ten MAT standards across Scotland.
“This will be key in ensuring that all people affected by problematic drug use benefit; including women, young people, people who live in remote and rural areas and people who use benzodiazepines and stimulants.”
