A charity boss has called on Aberdeen to “come together” to tackle a rising use of drugs.
Scotland, with a population of 5.5 million, reports a similar number of overdose deaths as Germany – which has a far greater population of 83 million.
The latest estimates suggest the country has about 60,000 problem drug users, or 1.6% of the adult population.
And now, new figures show that in the Grampian area, 6,000 people have received hospital treatment for drug overdoses over the last five years.
Last year, there were 1,064 intentional admissions due to drug overdoses, and 310 accidental overdose admissions.
4-Aminophenol derivatives made up for 1,990 of admissions over the last five years, followed by Benzodiazepines and then heroin.
Not all overdose admissions could be attributed to one drug, but there were 486 admissions classes as “other opioids” and 350 due to “sedative-hypnotic drugs”
Fraser Hogan, of Aberdeen-based Alcohol Drug and Action, said, the figures were “not surprising” and called for early intervention to stop children in deprived areas falling into drug misuse.
He said: “To reduce these figures we need the public’s help.
“If people are left angered by reading the figures – then they can help us do something.
“This is everyone’s problem – not just the government’s.
He added: “Crack cocaine has always had more of a bite in the north-east than it does in Glasgow or Edinburgh, and its use is rising.
“Dundee and Glasgow have started to come together to address the drugs – Aberdeen needs to come together and do the same.
“A percentage of people who get caught up with drugs have had childhood or adult trauma and we need to recognise that – not sweep it under the rug.
“We need to close the net and capture more people before it gets to the overdose stage.”
In 2016, the Scottish Government cut funding to alcohol and drug prevention services by more than 20%, from £69million to £54million.
The funding has since been restored, as the Scottish Government pledged an additional £20million to tackle the crisis, starting this year.
North-east MSP Liam Kerr said: “These figures which show a rise in drug overdose admissions are just the tip of the iceberg.
“Both NHS Grampian and organisations like Alcohol Drugs Action do a fantastic job and are continually having to battle against these cuts.
“We are continually calling for more rehab beds to help users kick the habit as well as offering support to both them and their families – something the SNP Government wants to reduce.
“These figures highlight just how serious the situation is in the north-east and it’s important people receive the help they need.”
Last night, a Scottish Government spokeswoman reaffirmed the SNP are treating drug deaths as a “public health emergency” and said almost £800million has been invested in drug and alcohol rehabilitation since 2008.
She added: “For 2020-21 the Scottish Government funding for reducing the harms from drug and alcohol use will be £93.8million. We have invested new funding within the current Scottish Budget to ensure the Drug Deaths Taskforce and Alcohol and Drug Partnerships can respond to the needs of those who are most at risk.
“We have been absolutely clear what Scotland faces in terms of drug-related deaths is a public health emergency and have taken a range of actions to address this, including setting up a dedicated taskforce to inform steps to reduce the harms caused by drugs and advise on further changes in practice, or in the law, which could help save lives.”
