Renfrewshire addiction strategy to target drink and drug abuse

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Renfrewshire councillors approved a new addiction strategy, on Thursday 26 June, aimed at toppling Renfrewshire from its top-five place in Scotland's drink and drugs league table.

Renfrewshire has the fourth highest rate of male alcohol related deaths within the UK and the fifth highest rate of intravenous drug use in Scotland.

Over 12,000 Renfrewshire men and women report showing indications of problem drinking while 9,000 show physical signs of being dependent on drink. In 2006/07 332 new cases were referred to the Renfrewshire Drug Service with heroin being the drug of choice.

The three year Renfrewshire Addiction Strategy aims to:

• Cut the level of crime caused by drink and drugs
• Cut the number of adults and young people who are drinking more than is safe
• Cut the number of drink and drug related deaths
• Cut the time people wait to get treatment for drink and drug problems
• Increase the number of people who recover from drink and drug abuse and get into training courses, education and employment.

Councillor Eileen McCartin, convener of Renfrewshire's community and family care policy board, said, "Drink and drug abuse exacts a terrible toll on Renfrewshire. The average age of the people who contact a drugs service in Renfrewshire is just 30 years old. Three quarters of them are unemployed and a quarter of them have criminal records.

"Approximately 32 children each year will be born to parents who have problems with drugs. Increasingly we are seeing more and more children on the Child Protection Register because they are being neglected by parents who are in the grip of drink or drugs.

"This strategy will help provide improved services for people with drink and drug problems by targeting resources where they are most needed. It will make it easier to get help and most of all it will make a real difference to people's lives.

"We want to see more people recovering from drink and drug abuse and going on to live longer, healthier lives where they can make a positive contribution to society."

Each year in Renfrewshire over 1,500 people are admitted to hospital with alcohol related problems and around 86 die because of drink related illnesses. In 2006 drugs killed 17 people.

The Renfrewshire Addiction Strategy is a joint approach to tackling drink and drug abuse which has been drawn up by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Renfrewshire Council, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, Strathclyde Police and partners from the voluntary sector.

Press release: Monday 30 June 2008