A new report has revealed a sharp drop in the number of drug deaths in Stirling in 2021 - but campaigners are urging caution over the issue.
The data from the National Records of Scotland, released on Friday, showed a small drop in the number of drug-related fatalities across Scotland for the first time since 2013.
In Stirling, the drug death total has almost halved in a year from 31 in 2020 to 16 in 2021, with a general rate of 21.2 per 100,000 of population.
The decrease nationally is also reflected in the figures in the region, with the 69 drug deaths in Forth Valley in 2021 a fall from the 2020 figure of 77.
However, one local councillor and campaigner believes there is still more to be done in reducing the drug death toll in the city further.
Bannockburn representative Alasdair Macpherson said: “The drop in deaths in Stirling is welcome news, however any claims that things are getting in any way better is not echoed by those I speak to.
“Of the 16 who died in Stirling last year, I got to know at least half of them and know how their deaths has impacted their families. A lot of these people died because the face-to-face support from various bodies who are paid millions in public money was withdrawn because of Covid.
“I have been told that some of these groups are still not back to 100 per cent face-to-face support.
“Families feel that their loved ones deaths were avoidable. Numerous agencies have been set up to support people with addictions, but I have been told on several occasions that they people who run them are difficult to contact, aloof and completely lack compassion and understanding.
“Nationally we see rolling out more reports, recommendations, committees and working groups that are well trodden are not sufficient to halt this appalling crisis.
“We have saw millions wasted on a Task Force that overseen an increase in drug related deaths, whose members you could have picked from any who’s who list of people who oversaw the decade or so increase in deaths.
“We can’t just stop at how many folk we have stopped dying either. That’s a terrible measurement. How many go on to recover to find a life again?”
Sandy Reynolds from the Stirling Salvation Army - who help some of those living with addiction - expressed optimism that support was returning to normal after the pandemic.
He said: “All of the services are back up and running now and just for us, a lot more people are coming to us for help - we’ve had more in the last six months than in the past two years.
“Everyone is kind of rallying together now and with more people seeking help, there are more services out there now to give that help; a lot of the services have also had time to sit and realise what needed to be done differently to help people.
“A lot of it is just about providing someone to talk to and giving them a shoulder to lean on and to help them with forms and other daunting things, as well as offering referrals on to somewhere else.
“The partnership working between ourselves and other organisations has been really good and that didn’t happen before.”
Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed said: “It is important to remember that behind these statistics are real people and my thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have passed away.
“Whilst the drop in drug deaths in Stirling is encouraging, the overall national picture remains gravely concerning. This is something the Scottish Government takes seriously, with a number recommendations from previous reports being brought in to tackle the issue.
“These include the expansion of the police naloxone pilot, safer drug consumption facilities, drug checking facilities and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards – all measures which are already being progressed.
“The Drug Deaths Taskforce was established to provide expert advice on the emergency response to rising drug related deaths in Scotland and the Taskforce’s final report was published two weeks ago. I welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to consider the recommendations in detail.”
