“One more drug death is one too many”
As annual statistics of drug related deaths are released across Scotland, Inverclyde’s health and social care convener, is calling on action to reverse the national upward rise in Scotland.
The national records office has revealed data that shows drug related deaths in Scotland at their highest level ever recorded.
The local statistics show that in Inverclyde drug related deaths rose by one from 23 in 2017 to 24 in 2018, an increase of 4 per cent. While across the wider Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the increase was 114, a rise of 41 per cent.
Inverclyde’s Health and Social Care Convener, Councillor Robert Moran, said: “It is all too easy to see tables and statistics and look just at the numbers. Behind every single one of the statistics of drug related deaths is a life that didn’t need to be lost. In Inverclyde the numbers have risen by one in the past year. One more drug death is one too many.
“In Inverclyde we are built on strong communities and I don’t know anyone that wants to live in a society that is immune to the preventable death of one more of us. That’s why we need to work together as a community to support everyone to live a long, healthy and happy life free from drugs and the temptation to use them.
“The increase in drug related deaths in Scotland and Inverclyde represents a national and local public health priority. Every one of these deaths is a tragedy not only for those who have died but for their families and friends who will be affected by this loss.
“I am putting this challenge out to the community to show that Inverclyde cares by setting out our two clear goals: The first is to stop people from taking drugs in the first place and the second is to support those who are addicted to get clean and help them to live long, happy, healthy lives.
“To do this, we need all parts of our community working together to make sure that as parents we are supporting our young people, that people have positive choices to make at key points in their lives, that enforcement is there to remove drugs from our streets, that the right support is in place to help people get clean and that we are all working together to make sure that people who get themselves drug free have the choices and support to live long, healthy and happy lives.”