By Alistair Grant
THERE are “deep concerns” about the plight of Scotland’s homeless following the coronavirus pandemic and “substantial investment” is needed to tackle rising drug deaths, a charity boss has said.
Gavin Yates, chief executive of Homeless Action Scotland, said Covid-19 “has brought into sharp relief the issues around homelessness and substance misuse”.
It comes after The Herald reported calls for drug users to be considered a “priority group” to ensure they receive Covid-19 testing.
Medical experts raised concerns over the impact of the outbreak on some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people.
Figures released last year showed the number of drug-related deaths was at a record high in Scotland.
There were 1,187 drug deaths registered in 2018 – up 253 (27 per cent) on the previous year and nearly triple the UK rate.
Minutes from the latest meeting of the Scottish Government’s Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group, held in March, note: “Officials highlighted that drug deaths are steady but there is a significant increase year on year.”
Ongoing problems include the abuse of benzodiazepines – tranquillisers – and the complex health needs of Scotland’s older drug users.
Supplies of heroin in Glasgow are also said to be drying up for the first time in a decade, leading to fears over an increase in overdoses when they return to normal.
Council leaders across Scotland have ramped up support to help protect homeless people and rough sleepers during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Mr Yates said permanent changes must now be made.
He said: “Our members have told us that they have deep concerns about the post-Covid world and we cannot go back to the way it was before.
“Drug deaths were already depressingly high with too many people caught in a system where residential treatment was simply not available to them.
“The explosion of cheap knock-off benzodiazepines has already harmed far too many folk and we don’t see any sudden let up in this.
“Some organisations have highlighted issues around heroin and the chances of increased overdoses when supplies (recently depleted) are more back to normal.
“It is crystal clear that we have an opportunity for change and we need substantial investment in both homeless prevention and drug support services.
“Future generations will not forgive us if we simply allow it to go back to where we were before, with rough sleepers a permanent fixture of our biggest cities.”
Homeless Action Scotland is the national membership organisation for those committed to ending homelessness.
Minutes from the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group reveal concerns about “the lack of investment in the workforce, particularly in skills for assertive outreach teams”.
They also reference the different needs of the homeless population during the coronavirus pandemic.
Self-isolation and hand washing, for example, are often not possible.
The minutes state: “Concerns were raised around access to hand sanitiser, as supplies were starting to run low.”
The group’s members include ministers, Scottish Government officials, council representatives, charity bosses and NHS staff.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:“We are taking urgent action on drugs and are committed to improving the health outcomes of those who use drugs.
“That is why we have established a Taskforce to examine the main causes of drug deaths and held a conference in February to discuss the problems of substance misuse direct with those with experience of the issue including frontline workers, drug users and their families.
“Our budget for 2020/21 commits £20 million to reduce the harm caused by drugsThis means total Scottish Government spend on reducing the harm caused by alcohol and drug addiction in 2020/21 will be up to £95.3 million.”
On Saturday, The Herald reported recommendations from the Government’s Drug Deaths Taskforce on how to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. It said drug users should be considered a “priority group”.
A Scottish Government spokesman said it will spend up to £95.3 million in 2020/21 reducing the harm caused by alcohol and drug addiction.
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