Orkney and Shetland Labour
28 May 2019
The number of drug-related general acute hospitals stays have reached the highest ever level, new figures reveal.
Almost 8,000 people were admitted to hospital for drug-related reasons in 2017/18.
New data from ISD Scotland also shows that in 2017/18, approximately half of patients with a drug-related general acute or psychiatric hospital stay lived in the most deprived areas of Scotland.
Over the past twenty years there has been a fourfold increase in the number of drug-related hospitals stays, with a sharper increase in recent years.
Scottish Labour Health Spokesperson Monica Lennon said:
“Scottish Labour has repeatedly pressed the SNP government to declare a public health emergency, in response to a national drugs crisis which is costing thousands of lives, and our economy billions of pounds, each year.
"Failure to address this crisis and to invest in substance misuse services means the poorest and most vulnerable in our society are being failed.
“We need to break down the barriers that far too many people with substance misuse problems face, and properly invest in mental health and addiction services so that people can get the help they need.”
The number of drug-related general acute hospitals stays have reached the highest ever level, new figures reveal.
Almost 8,000 people were admitted to hospital for drug-related reasons in 2017/18.
New data from ISD Scotland also shows that in 2017/18, approximately half of patients with a drug-related general acute or psychiatric hospital stay lived in the most deprived areas of Scotland.
Over the past twenty years there has been a fourfold increase in the number of drug-related hospitals stays, with a sharper increase in recent years.
Scottish Labour Health Spokesperson Monica Lennon said:
“Scottish Labour has repeatedly pressed the SNP government to declare a public health emergency, in response to a national drugs crisis which is costing thousands of lives, and our economy billions of pounds, each year.
"Failure to address this crisis and to invest in substance misuse services means the poorest and most vulnerable in our society are being failed.
“We need to break down the barriers that far too many people with substance misuse problems face, and properly invest in mental health and addiction services so that people can get the help they need.”