National Drugs Mission Plan: 2022-2026
Update on National Mission to reduce drug deaths and improve the lives of those impacted by drugs.
2. Vision
In January 2021 the First Minister announced a new National Mission to reduce drug deaths and harms supported by an additional £50 million funding per year over the lifetime of this Parliament (2021 to 2026).
The aim of the National Mission is to reduce drug deaths and improve the lives of those impacted by drugs. We will do this by preventing people from developing problem drug use; reducing harms from the consumption of drugs; getting more people into high quality treatment and recovery services; addressing the needs of people with multiple and complex needs and supporting families and communities affected by problem drug use. Our outcomes framework, developed with stakeholders, reflects these objectives.
The National Mission has reviewed and learned from best practice at home and internationally and concluded that a public health approach to drugs is the most effective way forward. It complements and builds upon Rights, Respect and Recovery (2018), Scotland's alcohol and drug strategy. Our vision remains the same: Scotland is a country where "we live long, healthy and active lives regardless of where we come from"[1] and where individuals, families and communities:
- have the right to health and life – free from the harms of alcohol and drugs;
- are treated with dignity and respect;
- are fully supported within communities to find their own type of recovery.
This vision, sits alongside the Scottish government's wider commitments to improving population health and requires a whole system approach, working in partnership across the Scottish Government, local authorities and the third sector – all of which will be informed by the voices of those with lived and living experience.
This challenge is complex and multi layered. Our approach includes an emergency response – addressing the immediate harms and preventing overdose from becoming fatal; reducing risk through improving the accessibility and quality of treatment; and reducing vulnerability by addressing the complex needs of people with drug problems.
This document sets out our approach to achieve our aim and vision through the articulation of outcomes. These outcomes, alongside six cross cutting priorities have been developed in collaboration with stakeholders – including representatives with lived experience. They describe both the complexity of the challenge we face and the opportunities that a whole systems, whole-Scotland approach will afford A National Mission.
Graphic text below:
Reduce Deaths and Improve Lives:
- Fewer people develop problem drug use
- People receive high quality treatment and recovery services
- Children, families and communities affected by substance use are supported
- Risk is reduced for people who ntake harmful drugs
- People at most risk have access nto treatment and nrecovery
- Quality of life nis improved for people who nexperience multiple disadvantage
| Cross-Cutting Priorities | Reduce Deaths and Improve Lives | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lived Experience at the Heart | 01 Fewer people develop problem drug use |
02 Risk is reduced for people who take harmful drugs |
03 People at most risk have access to treatment and recovery |
04 People receive high quality treatment and recovery services |
05 Quality of life is improved by addressing multiple disadvantages |
06 Children, families and communities affected by substance use are supported |
| Equalities and Human Rights | a) Young people receive evidence based, effective holistic interventions to prevent problem drug use | a) Overdoses are prevented from becoming fatal | a) People at high risk are proactively identified and offered support | a) People are supported to make informed decisions about treatment options | a) All needs are addressed through joined up, person centred services | a) Family members are empowered to support their loved one's recovery |
| Tackle Stigma | b) People have early access to support for emerging problem drug use | b) All people are offered evidence based harm reduction and advice | b) Effective pathways between justice and community services are established | b) Residential rehabilitation is available for all those who will benefit | b) Wider health and social care needs are addressed through informed, compassionate services | b) Family members are supported to achieve their own recovery |
| Surveillance and Data Informed | c) Supply of harmful drugs is reduced | c) Effective Near-Fatal Overdose Pathways are established across Scotland | c) People are supported to remain in treatment for as long as requested | c) Advocacy is available to empower individuals | c) Communities are resilient and supportive | |
| Resilient and Skilled Workforce | d) People have the option to start medication- assisted treatment from the same day of presentation | |||||
| Psychologically Informed | e) People have access to high standard, evidence based, compassionate and quality assured treatment options | |||||
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