Across Simon Community Scotland we have known and lost many people to preventable overdose deaths and feel the shared loss of precious lives gone far too soon.
1,172 people. The people who are represented in these figures are mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, grandparents, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons and we must remember them and their families, friends and communities feeling the loss of a loved one. Many people who have died were in their 30s, 40s and 50s, not old age. While there has been investment across the country driving the work of the National Mission – it hasn’t and continues not to go far or quick enough.
For many people we support, the drug death crisis is inexplicably linked to other ongoing public health challenges and emergencies – cost of living, lack of equal opportunity, an ongoing housing emergency, crisis in our emergency services leading to less access, less choice. There must be linked up thinking and action – ensuring people have what they need goes far beyond people’s substance use. It is an important element but it must sit alongside good quality housing, access to mental and physical health support, access to opportunities to build skills and link into opportunities for learning and employment and the right support. We often frame people’s challenges as ‘complex’ yet what remains complicated is a system that is not joined up, is difficult to navigate and that moves people from place to place with little transparency or communication.
We know what is needed – we know it needs to be better, and move faster. Every time the drug death figures are released everyone stops in their tracks, it is shocking, it is heartbreaking for those who have lost a loved one or who is still trying to navigate and access help. To move beyond this dark period we need more safe places for people, places people can access what they need under one roof, places where people can access care and support that places them at the centre, with kindness, dignity and respect.
We also need to challenge when things are not right and ensure people themselves have ways to challenge this too. We need to create the space in the system for people – individual and unique in their life experiences and what they need – to be able to get what they need in a way that works for them.
The public health emergency we are facing remains as pressing and urgent as ever and while today is the day that gets the spotlight for the most difficult of reasons, there are many, many people who still need things to get much better, at a much faster rate. We send love and thoughts to all those affected today and continue to work to ensure people have safe places to be, surrounded by support, access and choice.
Claire Longmuir, Head of Policy & Practice for Harm Reduction