TECH EMPLOYED TO TACKLE DRUG-RELATED DEATHS
There’s no doubt that Scotland is in the grip of a public health emergency in relation to increasing numbers of drug-related deaths.
A
staggering 1264 Scottish people lost their lives last year in drug-related cases: the highest number since records began
The figure is over three-and-a-half times that of the United Kingdom as a whole and an alarming fifteen times that of the European average.
Now, up to £2.75 million has been granted by the Scottish Government and the Drugs Deaths Taskforce to help people at risk from drug-related harm stay connected to life-saving services during the pandemic and beyond.
Over the next two years, the funding will be used to supply and distribute smart phones and other appropriate devices, provide data and to build the skills and confidence of people using services and those who support them.
Funding will be also be provided to develop a range of digital technologies, encourage service innovations such as alert and responder apps and to enable the identification of any effective
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approaches that will support the redesign of services nationally.
Homelessness charity, SIMON Community Scotland, has been supporting people with a range of complex needs, including problem drug use, to stay connected with family and friends and access vital health and care services through digital means.
‘We are fully in support of this initiative,’ said the charity’s Scotland Chief Executive, Lorraine McGrath. ‘It will make a big difference to people’s ability to maintain connections with their support and care and build what are increasingly critical digital life skills.
‘It empowers the people we support with the freedom to make a phone call or connect face to face with someone at the precise time they are in need of help.’
In NHS Highland, meanwhile, the Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership has developed an
app to help reduce drug-related harm and deaths across the north of Scotland.
The Highland Overdose Prevention and Engagement (HOPE) app has been created with input from people with lived experience and a range of experts from NHS Highland and beyond.
‘The HOPE app is a source of information for people with drug and or alcohol problems, as well as their families or friends, which helps prevent overdose and encourages engagement with services that can help,’ said Eve MacLeod, NHS Highland’s Health Improvement Specialist.
‘It contains information on what to do in an emergency overdose situation for both depressant and stimulant drugs. Harm reduction information and details on how to contact a range of support services are also available on the app.’
The HOPE app is free to download, and is available from Android and Apple.
IT EMPOWERS THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT WITH THE FREEDOM TO MAKE A PHONE CALL OR CONNECT FACE TO FACE WITH SOMEONE AT THE PRECISE TIME THEY ARE IN NEED OF HELP
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