Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (Referrals)

Justice and Law Officers – in the Scottish Parliament at 3:11 pm on 5 May 2010.

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Photo of Nanette Milne Nanette Milne Conservative 3:11, 5 May 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Community Safety monitors how many people have been referred for methadone and detox-based rehabilitation by the alcohol and drug partnerships and have sought such treatment. (S3O-10357)

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

The number of new drug treatment interventions that services offer, including substitute prescribing and residential rehabilitation, is currently monitored using the drug treatment waiting times information framework. To reduce waiting times and ensure that people can access treatment when they need it, we have introduced a national health improvement, efficiency, access and treatment target. Under that target, by March 2013, 90 per cent of people who need help with their drugs problem will wait no longer than three weeks for treatment. We are also introducing a new data collection system, which will be in place by April 2011 and will allow us to track the treatment of individuals moving towards recovery.

Photo of Nanette Milne Nanette Milne Conservative

It is accepted that a drug-free life is preferable to one on long-term substitutes such as methadone, and the addicts who have achieved that to whom I have spoken say that they could not have done so without a prolonged spell of residential detox-based rehabilitation, such as that provided at the Alexander Clinic in my region. Therefore, does the minister agree that his figures should be used to inform the required level of such provision? When can we expect an adequate level of residential rehab provision for those who need and want it?

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

I appreciate Nanette Milne's interest in the topic. The drugs strategy, "The Road to Recovery: A New Approach to Tackling Scotland's Drug Problem", to which all parties in the Parliament agreed, recognises that there are many different routes to the road to recovery, depending on the needs of each individual.

We recognise that residential rehabilitation is one of those routes and that it works for some people. Equally, many other types of treatment and support work for other people. I am very pleased to be visiting, on a ministerial engagement on Monday, Castle Craig hospital, which is one of the establishments that provide important residential support. I look forward to visiting Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire ADPs in June to learn more about their record in Nanette Milne's area, which includes the stupendous effort of reducing from 500 the number of people waiting for assessment in 2008 to three in the most recent quarter. Many congratulations are due to everyone who has worked to achieve that stupendous improvement in performance.