Families
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-03394, in the name of Nanette Milne, on families. I remind all members that time is extremely tight for the two debates this morning, so I will hold you very firmly to the time that has been allocated to you.
Nanette Milne has no more than 10 minutes.
09:15
I begin by indicating that we are happy to accept both amendments.
It is well recognised that Scotland still has an enormous problem with drug addiction, which puts a significant strain on local authority, health and police services. On top of that, members of the public and—most important—members of addicts’ families are widely and directly affected by our country’s drug problem. They may be faced with trying to rescue sons, daughters or grandchildren from the chaotic lifestyle of the addict—indeed, many kinship carers are in that role because of family drug addiction—or they may have to cope with bereavement as a result of overdose. Sadly, that is not uncommon and is proof of the tragic consequences of Scotland’s drugs epidemic. As Annabel Goldie has stated:
“Each death represents not just a life needlessly lost, but a family devastated and a community scarred.”
People may try to support a relative along the long and hard road to recovery, as family support is a hugely important aspect of an addict’s recovery. Sadly, those who give such support often suffer considerable distress and face stigma and discrimination, which put barriers in the way of recovery. When Sheila McKay of the Grampian Family Support Forum addressed the Parliament at time for reflection on 7 March, she said:
“Knowing that a family member has a drug problem is a painful and lonely experience.”—[Official Report, 7 March 2012; c 6921.]
It is therefore only right that family members who give their unconditional support to their loved ones are given support themselves. That is where family support groups, which are formed to help families that are affected by drug misuse and addiction, play a vital role. They enable families to communicate with others in similar situations, to learn from one another’s experiences and to build relationships that are imperative to their wellbeing in an environment of mutual understanding.
The Scottish Families Affected by Drugs national forum started as a grass-roots organisation in 2003 that involved families who expressed their desire to become a united force in raising awareness of the difficulties that they faced. It is a membership organisation, and family members account for two thirds of the membership. It is governed by a voluntary board of directors, describes itself as
“the hub of a network of family support groups across Scotland”
and has the vision of a Scotland that recognises and supports the needs of families that are affected by the drug misuse of a loved one and the crucial role that is played by families. Its mission is to support families in Scotland that are affected by drug misuse and to raise awareness of the issues that affect them. To achieve that, it facilitates a network of family support groups, runs a national helpline and lobbies for the recognition of families in both national and local drug treatment policies. Importantly, families are at the heart of the organisation, providing information on local networks and access to funding, and supporting around 40 local groups, with just over 200 individual members.
I have no doubt that other members will tell us about support groups in their own parts of Scotland, but I want to focus on the Grampian Family Support Forum in my region, which was set up as recently as 2010 by family members and Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, and is funded by the Aberdeenshire alcohol and drug partnership. It is part of the achieving community empowerment programme, and has already made great progress towards facilitating a network of local support groups. It acts as an umbrella organisation within which local family support groups throughout Grampian can effectively communicate with one other, and was a successful participant in the third phase of the Parliament’s community partnership project. It reported back to Parliament on its work over the past year at the outcome ceremony that was held in the chamber at the end of March.
Under the leadership of its tireless chairman, Sheila McKay, the Grampian Family Support Forum is an excellent example of what can be achieved. It could lead the way for peer support right across Scotland. The Grampian model has shown that, given the right forum, families are more than willing to use their own experiences to help other families in the same position, but families need to be made aware of the existence of such fora. Perhaps general practitioners have a role in signposting them to a local support group.
I first met Sheila McKay when I sponsored an event for her, entitled “recovery happens”. It was a highly successful event, which was well attended by north-east MSPs from all parties and helped to increase our awareness that recovery from addiction can and does happen and that family members have an important role during recovery. Members of the Grampian forum were present, as were other groups that play a significant and essential role in recovery, such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and the Scottish Recovery Consortium. Local groups of affected families and people who were recovering from drug addiction were also present.
We heard the remarkable and inspiring story of Jane and her journey from addiction to alcohol and heroin to recovery, such that she now works for a voluntary organisation and counsels victims of similar addictions. We heard Betty’s story—the story of an amazing mother and grandmother who has held her family together despite several tragic events and who continues to help a loved one who is recovering from drug addiction. We heard from Daniel, who is converting his grief at losing his brother to addiction into films that are aimed at raising awareness of the issues that he and others have faced. The personal stories were extremely moving and the stresses that the people who told them had experienced were clear to see.
The contribution from families is continuous, arduous and critically important. Groups such as the Grampian forum try to highlight that families can and do learn from one another, that there needs to be a focus on recovery for families as well as for addicts, that families want to use and draw on their experience to help other families, and that families want to secure better services for people who are trying to recover from addiction and regain their lives.
Like us, the forum thinks that the ultimate goal for recovering addicts is total abstinence from addictive drugs, and that peer support is vital if recovering addicts are to achieve that. The forum thinks that we need more resources in place, such as easier and speedier access to residential rehabilitation, coupled with better follow-up support. It thinks that there needs to be an exit strategy for people who take methadone or other such harm-reduction treatment, which should not be for the long term.
The Grampian Family Support Forum has strong views on what is necessary to aid recovery, which my party shares. First, simply returning addicts to the community without support is ineffective; proper aftercare is required if any model of rehabilitation is to be effective. Secondly, it should be acknowledged that relapse is part of recovery. That should be taken account of in recovery programmes, and support should be available when relapse occurs. Thirdly, even after recovery from addiction it takes time to rebuild a life, and support for recovering addicts and families is vital at that stage. There is a gap in provision in that regard.
The United Kingdom Drug Policy Commission said in a report in 2009 that at that time 134,000 adults in Scotland were significantly affected by problematic drug use in their families. Family members reported feeling isolated, stressed, stigmatised and guilty. Stigma is a particular problem that must be tackled because it not only affects the people who are using drugs but spreads to family members. The media’s use of words such as “junkies” only adds to the stigma. Organisations such as the Grampian forum are fighting an on-going battle to get the media to be more careful about what they say.
We are still far from eradicating drug addiction in Scotland, and many people who want to be free of addiction still have to wait far too long for appropriate rehabilitation. There is much that we could say about that. However, today’s debate is about support for families. I acknowledge the Scottish Government’s commitment to investing in national organisations such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and the Scottish Recovery Consortium, which help families and communities to support “sustained recovery across Scotland”, as the amendment in Roseanna Cunningham’s name says.
I can do no better than conclude by quoting again from Sheila McKay’s time for reflection speech:
“Our core aim is to encourage the formation of new peer-support groups and increase the membership of those that already exist ... Since the project started, our numbers have increased from three to 21 throughout the north-east of Scotland. Our profile has been raised, our opinions have been valued and our voice has been heard ... we are making an impact and planting the seeds of change.
We want to use our lived expedience to make positive changes within our communities. Why? Because, when you are qualified to speak, people listen ... Built into every trial that we go through in life—every trial that forces us to grow—are the answers that other people need.”—[Official Report, 7 March 2012; c 6921-2.]
Those are wise words from the heart, from a mother who has successfully travelled along the road of family addiction.
I move,
That the Parliament recognises the importance of family members recovering in their own right from the effects that their loved-ones’ drug misuse has on them; notes that family support groups provide a vital resource for families to get support for their own needs and to build relationships with others in similar circumstances; recognises the continuing challenges that small peer-led family support groups across Scotland face to sustain themselves; congratulates the Grampian Family Support Forum on its successful participation in the third phase of the Parliament’s Community Partnership Project and notes the success of the forum’s Recovery Happens event held in the Parliament on 1 March 2012 enabling the forum to further its support base on its campaign; further recognises the importance of these groups in breaking down barriers around stigma and discrimination related to substance misuse and addiction; understands that substance misuse and addiction do not discriminate in relation to who they affect and are important and destructive issues for families and Scottish society as a whole, and encourages that the forum’s vision is rolled out throughout Scotland so that communities across the country can learn from its example.
I call Roseanna Cunningham to speak to and move amendment S4M-03394.1. Minister, you have no more than seven minutes.
09:25
I welcome the motion and the Labour amendment. Nanette Milne is absolutely right—the role of families is key to the success of our national drug strategy “The Road to Recovery: A New Approach to Tackling Scotland’s Drug Problem”.
To set the context for the debate, it is important to consider the considerable amount of information that we have on drug use and its impact on families. Recently published reports show us that illegal drug use in the general adult population in Scotland has declined by more than a fifth since 2006. We also know that reported drug use among our young people is falling steadily. That said, 59,600 individuals use opiates in Scotland. There were 485 drug-related deaths in 2010, of which many—but not necessarily all—can be attributed to opiates. Although fewer and fewer young people contribute to that tragic statistic, we have an ageing cohort of drug users who have experienced poorer health over the past decade. We can see that group moving through the population.
It is important that in the debate we recognise not only the support that is given by families, but the support that is needed by families. Those are two different things—they are not exactly the same. In Scotland, we recognise that recovery is a long-term process that involves patience and the potential for relapse. By its nature, it requires a person-centred approach and yet it must be supported by a wider recovery community.
The role of families in recovery and the impact of drug use on families were eloquently explained to me when I first met the chair and director of Scottish Families Affected by Drugs last year. I then attended the organisation’s national conference to make clear the commitment of the Scottish Government to support our families and communities across Scotland on their own road to recovery. Nanette Milne used a word that I have used frequently after meeting those people: “inspiring”. Their experience and their commitment are an inspiration to all of us. Such is our commitment as a Government to Scottish Families Affected by Drugs that I provided additional funding in 2012-13 to support it through a challenging period of transition and reorganisation.
Nanette Milne also mentioned the Scottish Recovery Consortium, which is another key organisation in the recovery movement. The consortium has set in motion an innovative and ambitious programme for 2012-13 and beyond. The work programme, which is directly funded by the Scottish Government, outlines proactive steps to accelerate the growth of recovery communities across Scotland—communities that start with peer and family support and grow into a network of peers, families, services and advocacy, making recovery a reality.
The consortium also plays a leading role in tackling stigma in the context of recovery. It is clear that stigma is a significant barrier to people accessing help. It is a further and unjust pressure on families and is not tolerable in the 21st century, when—more than ever before—altruism and our sense of community will underpin success in bringing about recovery. The battle against stigma is one that has been long fought on behalf of vulnerable individuals by the Scottish Drugs Forum. The SDF has an important role in developing peer support, advocacy services and family support across Scotland.
Together with the Scottish Recovery Consortium, individuals across Scotland in recovery are being supported to give something back to their families and their communities. I meet people who are in the process of doing precisely that on a regular basis. The stories that they have to tell—and sometimes the length of time that it has taken them to get there—are astonishing. That work requires patience on the part of communities and families as well.
The Scottish Government provided the Scottish Drugs Forum with a package of funding to help us jointly to implement our world-leading naloxone programme. The programme empowers not only individuals but families to save a life. The reality of drug misuse is that individuals put their lives at risk. To lose a family member is a terrible tragedy, which is why I committed a further £400,000 in 2012-13 to the national naloxone programme, to ensure that naloxone is widely available throughout Scotland. As naloxone is not an antidote that can be self-administered, the programme has proactively engaged families, peers and communities in training and awareness programmes. At its best, the programme encourages an early discussion within the family about drug use and the risk of overdose. From there, it is but a small step to recovery.
I have listened carefully to the minister’s comments about the recovery programmes, which I fully support, and I support everything that Nanette Milne said, but I have not heard anything about psychological support for the many underlying mental health issues that can often result from drug taking and alcoholism.
The member will accept that, in a speech of seven minutes, I cannot touch on every issue, but I am aware of the mental health problems that go along with drug use, which are beginning to be particularly evident in the older group of drug users. That is a big challenge for mental health services.
Scotland’s 30 alcohol and drug partnerships have the role of delivering on the agreed commitments that are articulated in “The Road to Recovery”. Through our investment in front-line care, treatment and recovery services and the commitment of our local partners, we are beginning to see some green shoots of that recovery across Scotland.
We are witnessing the growth of family support organisations throughout Scotland, some of which are funded jointly by us and the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland’s partnership drugs initiative. Those include First Step in East Lothian; the family matters project in Fife; North United Communities in Glasgow; the Children 1st supporting families project in Aberdeen; the carer support service in Moray; the Armadale community families project in West Lothian; the kith ‘n’ kin service in Tayside; the lifeshaper project in the Western Isles; and, of course, the inspiration for this debate, the Grampian Family Support Forum, which in its own words is an example of using
“‘lived experience’ to make positive changes within our communities.”
I welcome the Parliament’s commitment to this area and the consensus on the importance not only of family support, but of support for families on the road to recovery, which means recovery for the individuals and their families. In turn, that will mean recovery for communities and for Scotland.
I move amendment S4M-03394.1, to insert at end:
“; further supports the direct investment of the Scottish Government in national organisations such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, the Scottish Recovery Consortium and the Scottish Drugs Forum, which support families in playing their vital role in building recovery communities across Scotland, and endorses the role of the Road to Recovery in putting the individual at the centre of care, treatment and recovery services and, in doing so, promoting the essential role of families and communities in supporting sustained recovery across Scotland.”
09:32
I thank Nanette Milne for bringing forward this debate on supporting families who are affected by drugs. It is an important and challenging debate on an issue that we need to deal with on a cross-party basis and with consensus.
Drug misuse is not an easy problem to deal with. As we know, there are about 60,000 problem drug users in Scotland and, on average, for every known problem drug user, four other people—often family members—are directly affected. Therefore, there is no doubt that drug misuse affects a significant number of people in Scotland. Many of them will be children who, through no fault of their own, are neglected because of their parents’ drug addiction. The Scottish Government estimates that 40,000 to 60,000 children are affected by parental drug misuse, but more recent studies suggest that the figure could be even greater.
Parental drug and alcohol misuse can have a serious impact on all aspects of children’s and young people’s lives. For some children, basic needs might not be met and there is a heightened risk of maltreatment and abuse. Audits of child protection registers have found that a significant proportion of children live with parental drug and alcohol misuse. Parents with drug problems are often physically and emotionally unable to meet children’s needs, which can result in children taking greater responsibility in the household and can affect their education.
We must recognise that the secrecy and stigma surrounding the issue are likely to affect parents and children when they consider seeking support. In some cases, children might feel frightened about the consequences of telling someone outside the family. Children want somebody to talk to whom they can trust, who does not judge them, who listens and who is reliable. Meeting other children who have similar experiences can often prove to be helpful.
Family support groups provide an opportunity for relatives, partners and friends to meet others who are experiencing or have experienced similar circumstances. As Nanette Milne pointed out, surveys have shown that family members of addicts often feel isolated, depressed and stressed. It is widely accepted that addicts need support to recover but so, too, do family members.
Given that responses to surveys have made it clear that family support groups offer the type of supportive, non-judgmental environment that helps recovery, we should welcome the work being done by the Grampian Family Support Forum and Scottish Families Affected by Drugs to bring families affected by drugs together. The dedication and commitment of staff and volunteers in such projects provide much-needed support to families affected by drug misuse. As families benefit from working together, developing bonds and relationships and helping one another to get through challenging periods in their lives, we must ensure that not only information but the best advice are properly shared with them and that they are given the practical support they need.
I am sure that other members will highlight examples of good practice from across Scotland. However, I believe that we should acknowledge the contribution made by grandparents and recognise the pressure felt by kinship carers who step in to look after children of drug-addicted parents. Not only do many kinship carers not get the financial support that they need, but they are not well equipped physically and emotionally; after all, they often have to look after young grandchildren as well as deal with their own child’s drug addiction. The financial support for kinship carers that the Scottish Government promised has still not arrived, and I ask it to bring forward that support as soon as possible.
Although it is vital that families are supported, Scottish Families Affected by Drugs has found that, despite the pressures that they face, most family members wait for at least two years before seeking help for themselves. I know that people are keen to change that situation but, in order to do so, we must tackle the stigma surrounding drug misuse. Indeed, 41 per cent of respondents to the Scottish Families Affected by Drugs survey said that stigma had been a barrier to their seeking help for a relative. The truth is that we all have a duty to tackle stigma, as it can have very serious consequences. We must also ensure that the proper facilities and treatments are available to those who decide that they want to come off drugs because, if they are not, we will see a long-term decline in their chances of recovery.
The problem of drugs is not easy to deal with. As I said, we need to approach the issue on a cross-party basis and build a consensus about how we move forward on it.
I move amendment S4M-03394.2, to insert at end:
“; recognises the contribution of Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, and believes that family support groups need to be given the support required to help their members and relatives through challenging periods in their lives.”
We move to the open debate. I remind everyone that we are tight for time and that speeches will be no more than four minutes long.
09:37
I thank Nanette Milne for raising an important issue that, such is the scale of substance misuse in our nation, is—I am sorry to say—relevant to every member in the chamber.
Given that substance abuse can impact severely on individuals and families and that the family can play a huge role in helping those who are struggling with an addiction, it is important that we support the small family-led groups that help not only those suffering from substance misuse but people living with someone who abuses drugs or alcohol. It is startling to note research from 2000 that estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000—or 1 in 20—Scottish children were affected by the drug problem of one or more parent. Sadly, such situations have a negative impact on the subsequent health, employability and educational attainment of those children and put them at greater risk of emotional or physical abuse.
In an ideal world, we would not have to confront such issues, and we must always do everything within our power to prevent people from falling into the grasp of addiction. Of course, such preventative work has many facets, including seizing drugs before they enter the country; effective policing to prevent distribution; and providing effective education to alert young people in particular to the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
I am pleased that, since 2006, illegal drug use in the general adult population has declined by more than a fifth. However, as the minister has made clear, we still have a long, long way to go. I am also confident that minimum pricing will have a positive impact on Scotland’s dangerous relationship with alcohol and the harm that it causes.
However, it is an unfortunate reality that people will continue to fall victim to substance misuse and that many will form addictions, harming themselves and others around them. It is therefore the Government’s moral responsibility to offer support to help people break the cycle of addiction, to allow sufferers to regain control of their lives, lessen the impact on wider society—I refer to costs relating to the national health service and law and order—and reduce the emotional torment of people who live with them.
Therefore, I am proud that this Government has invested 20 per cent more in front-line care, treatment and recovery since 2007 and that it has launched the road to recovery strategy, which firmly recognises the importance of the family unit in addressing these matters. It is due to the strategy and the continued investment in tackling addiction that family support organisations, such as the Grampian Family Support Forum, which Nanette Milne cited, are growing in number and importance.
Tackling Scotland’s drink and drug problem requires a multi-agency approach that employs a variety of tactics, treatments and support mechanisms. As members will know, drug treatment, including opiate substitutes such as methadone, often removes only the criminal element of addiction. Although such treatments have a role to play, it is far more difficult for someone to kick the habit without the support and encouragement of friends and family.
It is important that family members have the correct advice and information at their disposal, in order to recognise the signs of substance misuse and to help people through difficult times. That is why the Scottish Government increased core funding this year for Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, which supports a network of local family support groups and individual families through training, information provision and a dedicated helpline. Through that work, the SFAD gives family members not only the confidence to intervene when their relative’s drug or alcohol use becomes problematic, but the knowledge and ability to offer them support and help.
The scourge of alcohol and drug misuse in Scotland remains a persistent threat to the establishment of a safe, healthy and prosperous society. Many of my constituents—particularly in Saltcoats, where we discussed this very issue on Tuesday night—have great concern that not enough is being done and that more should be done to reduce long-term methadone dependency, in particular. Although the figures that I cited show that we are moving in the right direction, communities on the ground do not see progress happening as fast as they would like it to happen.
I believe that the Parliament and the Government will continue to rise to the challenge, through ground-breaking legislation such as the smoking ban and minimum pricing for alcohol but also through our continued commitment—despite tough financial times—to support individuals and families who have fallen victim to drug or alcohol abuse.
09:42
The debate is likely to be consensual, which reflects the fact that under the previous minister in the previous parliamentary session agreement on the recovery programme and policies on drugs was reached by cross-party consensus. That approach should be adopted in a number of areas, but particularly that of substance misuse.
In 2001, when I was the justice minister in charge of the drug aspects of the Government’s work, I was very happy to support the predecessor organisation to Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, which began a process that has continued to develop. The work of Scottish Families Affected by Drugs to develop a growing network of local family support groups is very welcome.
At the beginning of the Parliament’s first session, I was involved with local group called locals against drug abuse in Alloa, which was formed by parents whose children were involved in drug use. That group had a major effect on the development of policy and services in the area. Out of LADA grew an organisation called Signpost Recovery, to which many addicts who are beginning to seek treatment turn.
I ask the minister to provide some further information, either now, or, preferably, through the Scottish Parliament information centre. First, how many family support groups are there? I would like those to be listed so that we can see how many there are. An equally important question is what their sources of funding are. In the current climate of austerity, like many voluntary groups, they are under considerable pressure. Are alcohol and drug partnerships funding those groups? If so, is the funding being maintained? What funding is being provided by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland? The foundation often provides initial funding, which leads to pressure on ADPs to provide further funding.
I would also like the minister to give us information about the criminal assets cashback scheme. The scheme—the introduction of which I was involved in as a minister—has been one of the Parliament’s great successes. It should be noted that out of the £45 million that has been handed back to communities, only £2.25 million—in all that time—has been used to support community assets, including family support groups. I would like the minister to provide to SPICe a list of the groups that have been given community cashback scheme funding. That scheme should be used to a far greater extent to provide support for family support groups.
The minister mentioned drugs deaths. When I was justice minister, the number of drugs deaths was 332, and the year after I left office, it had dropped slightly to 317. That was still too high in comparison with the 250 or so deaths in 1997, but by 2008, the figure had risen to 574. As the minister reminded us, the numbers have come down since then, and now stand at 485. That is partly due to the very welcome naloxone programme. We need to involve families in that, but not just by providing them with the naloxone equipment, because they are often not involved when their child or relation takes an overdose. We need families to help us to identify those who are closest to the user and who are most likely to be in a position to use the naloxone. I hope that that will happen.
I call on the Government to do further work on bereavement counselling and support for the 485 affected families, because each death is a tragedy. The guilt that families sometimes feel—often wrongly—that they have not supported their loved ones adequately through the process is a problem.
The member needs to wind up.
We should praise Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, welcome the work that is done by the Scottish Drugs Forum and call on the Government to continue its co-operative approach in this field.
09:46
I am glad that Nanette Milne managed to bring the topic to the chamber as a Conservative business debate this morning; it was originally going to be a members’ business debate. It is an opportunity for us to discuss and consider how we can best support the organisations in our communities that are on the front line of supporting people who have addictions, and their families.
In her motion, Nanette Milne cites the Grampian Family Support Forum and in her speech she mentioned Sheila McKay. I first met Sheila McKay when I was a regional member. For Sheila, one meeting was not, as a woman from Banffshire, enough, of course. As the minister knows, we Banffshire women can be thrawn and persistent. We had several meetings in Aberdeen and—as Nanette Milne mentioned—in Parliament, not just with the Grampian forum but with other groups in the north-east that are involved in such work. Sheila McKay is still working—as Dr Simpson mentioned—on extending the pool of people who are allowed to administer naloxone.
Although levels of illegal drug use are at their lowest for several years and are still in decline, we cannot underestimate the devastating effects that drugs still have on individuals, families and communities. Virtually every family in the country is now affected in some way or another by drug misuse; my family has certainly not escaped it.
The Grampian Family Support Forum has benefited from administrative and communications assistance from the alcohol and drugs partnership that covers Moray, Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire. The Scottish Government’s recovery-focused approach to tackling drug use has helped thousands, and that progress is supported by the funding that is provided by many organisations that facilitate recovery, such as the Scottish Drugs Forum, the Scottish Recovery Consortium and the Grampian Family Support Forum. All those organisations deserve praise for their efforts, not only in helping and advising those who have addiction problems and their families, but in assisting in community action, education programmes and—as other members have mentioned—combating the stigma that attaches to addiction issues. Those organisations have been feeding back to Government and parliamentarians their information and experiences, and their opinions on the effectiveness of the current strategy and how progress can be continued. That highlights the invaluable work that they do, which is carried out as much in private as it is in public.
Worryingly, several of those organisations have heavily criticised the United Kingdom Government’s welfare cuts which, they tell us, threaten the support systems that exist and the delicate balance in many families and communities that are in sensitive situations regarding addiction and drugs.
The Scottish Drugs Forum and Scottish Families Affected by Drugs have spoken out against the UK Government’s proposed changes to how claimants with drug or alcohol problems can receive benefits, which threaten to undermine the progress that has been made. Both organisations have highlighted how Westminster’s proposals to hold claimants hostage over their benefits, pending their drug and alcohol addiction treatment, threaten to have serious knock-on effects on families and children.
The recovery happens event was a great example of how the expertise that such groups provide is fed back into the development of national and Government strategy. Neil Bibby mentioned kinship carers. I am assisting a number of grannies who are, as a result of the drug abuse of their child or their child’s partner, caring for their small grandchildren. One of the main messages that came from the recovery happens event was on the importance of a family-focused approach to recovery and addiction support. Families from across Scotland are keen to support one another and to share their experiences and knowledge. I welcome the debate as a way of thanking them.
09:50
The debate has already shown that there is not an MSP in the chamber or anyone who is involved in making policy on children who does not believe that good-quality family support is the most important building block in our society. Although there may be many divisions between us as we respond to the current debates about what constitute appropriate definitions of family and marriage, there is no dispute at all about the need to do more to help groups that provide crucial support when families—of whatever shape or form—find themselves in difficulty. We have cross-party agreement on that but, as was the case in the drugs debate, the next stage will be the real test. Can we lift the debate, as Nanette Milne said, away from just warm words, and on to a level that involves meaningful action, however difficult and challenging that may have to be?
As with the drugs debate, we are talking about an issue that is hugely complex and pervasive, and no party can ever pretend that it has all the answers. It would be grossly naive and arrogant for anyone to assume that they had all the answers, but we can say that we must have the courage of our convictions and not just stand by and do nothing but, instead, take a lead from groups such as the Grampian Family Support Forum.
As several colleagues have said, the effects of addiction can make family life lonely and emotionally draining. The families who are affected need help; most often, they need it from within their most immediate communities. That is what makes the Grampian Family Support Forum so special. The same is true of the Fife alcohol and drug partnership and, in the case of kinship care, of family group conferencing. Such groups are crucial in opening up avenues of discussion and breaking down barriers of discrimination or ignorance among some sections of society.
As the Parliament knows, the forthcoming children’s services bill will be a major piece of legislation that will provide us all with an opportunity to do things differently and to tackle head on the complexities that we face. Members of the Education and Culture Committee have already faced some challenging questions as we have taken preliminary evidence from many experts who work on the front line of helping children and struggling families. That comes on the back of the hugely important debate about kinship care, on which, to be frank—as Neil Bibby said—none of us can take credit for progress, which has been slow. That is doubly alarming, given the promises that Parliament made on kinship care some years back. We have failed to make things much better, so it is essential that we start by understanding the exact nature of the problem, given the extent of the cross-party support and the political will to help.
In two recent Education and Culture Committee meetings, we have been challenged on the inherent problems in defining and measuring outcomes, and we have been challenged to appreciate the real barriers that prevent better progress. Perhaps most difficult of all is that we have been told that the evidence base is patchy and inconsistent. How can we deal with a problem when we cannot put our hands on all the necessary data? That question needs the most careful attention, and groups such as the Grampian Family Support Forum can be instrumental in ensuring that families—who might well be extremely reluctant to come forward in any other forum—can first be rediscovered, and secondly be helped confidentially.
We need to be clear that Parliament is setting out on a difficult and probably tortuous journey, during which it will be not just politicians who can make a difference, but the volunteers and professionals on the ground who have the first-hand experience that we have not. Debates such as this are so important because it is immensely encouraging to see that we have the necessary political will and cross-party support. I have great pleasure in supporting the motion in Nanette Milne’s name.
09:54
I congratulate Nanette Milne on bringing this important debate to the chamber. I know that her original intention was to have a members’ business debate on the motion, but the seriousness of the issue is such that it is appropriate that it has been chosen for Conservative Party business. I am pleased, given that there appears to be consensus, that we are able to unite around the motion and amendments.
I met Sheila McKay of the Grampian Family Support Forum not long after I was elected, at the community partnerships programme event that was held in the Parliament. As Nanette Milne did, I attended the recovery happens event in the Parliament. It is fair to say that one would need to have had a heart of stone not to be moved by the testimonies of the individuals who spoke at that meeting. The clear message came out that families have a key role and that they want it to be further embedded.
There were three main messages from the event. First, families have a lot to contribute and want to be involved in supporting the people whom they love, and in helping to find solutions to the wider problems. Secondly, people who are recovering from addiction want to give something back. Thirdly, we as a Parliament and as a society, need to work together to help to tackle the stigma that people with addictions and their families face.
Important work is being done by networks such as the Grampian Family Support Forum and the other forums that have been mentioned and which will, I am sure, continue to be mentioned by members. The key role that they play is to ensure that families that are affected by substance misuse do not feel isolated within their communities. One thing that was highlighted at the recovery happens event—Nanette Milne mentioned it in her speech—is that, whether we like it or not, a societal stigma remains around substance misuse, and especially around families in which a member has a substance misuse problem. Stigma is felt by those families when, instead of taking what might be seen as the easy option and casting the family member away, they choose to support and help them. As Nanette Milne said, one aspect of that stigma is the language that is used in society.
At the recovery happens event, I made the point that we politicians have a key role to play in shaping the public debate about substance misuse and how individuals and families who are affected by it are viewed through the prism of the public debate. We must all take caution and reflect on how we respond to calls from journalists to comment on issues relating to substance misuse, particularly where an individual has committed an offence that relates to their substance misuse. The language that is used often stigmatises the family of the individual, which adds to the isolation that they feel—isolation that is being tackled by groups such as the Grampian Family Support Forum.
We also need to reflect on our own situations, which I certainly did during the recovery happens event. Within my community, my peer group and the people I went to school with, there are those who have gone down the road of substance misuse, and I reflected on the different ways in which our lives have gone. Some of the people whom I played with in the playground at primary school now find themselves involved in substance misuse. We must recognise that substance misuse is not the preserve of certain communities in society. It happens to people who have the same life chances as those who go on to very different outcomes and destinations. It can happen to anyone, and it can affect anyone. We need to reflect on that when we look at how we shape the debate going forward.
09:58
Not long after my election, I took on the role of co-convener of the cross-party group on drug and alcohol misuse, and through it I have learned a tremendous amount about the issues that we are discussing today. Recently, I hosted an event in the Parliament with Scottish Families Affected by Drugs; it is nice to see some of the people from that organisation in the gallery this morning. Also, I congratulate Sheila McKay on a lifetime of work on the agenda.
I have travelled across Edinburgh and across Scotland to speak to different organisations and groups that work in the field. I went with John Finnie to visit NHS Highland’s harm reduction unit, which is doing groundbreaking work on naloxone. I ask all members to look at that fantastic work, which should be happening throughout Scotland. I reiterate Richard Simpson’s point about naloxone and the situations that people find themselves in when they overdose. It does not tend to happen in a family environment; people tend not to overdose in front of their mum, dad, brother or sister. They are more likely to do it in front of somebody with whom they are taking drugs, or perhaps on their own, in which case they might be found by somebody else, in a coma or otherwise.
As important as it is that we help families to understand what naloxone is, and that we train them in using it—which is relevant to a conversation about drug and substance misuse—we also need to consider “family” in the widest possible sense. “Family” does not have to mean a relation or a blood relative; what matters is who a drug user or substance misuser defines as family. That is why community development is important, because services should be provided to the people whom somebody defines as their community on a day-to-day basis.
For some people whom I have met or worked with in the past year, family members are not the most helpful people for the recovery journey. Families might be at the heart of underlying problems or might have unhealthy relationships. Getting back into positive relationships with their families requires people to be at a stable point of recovery and to feel strong in their recovery. That cannot happen instantly—getting to the point at which people want to tackle underlying issues with their families takes a lot of time on the journey of recovery. That goes back to community development and the recovery communities that we can build.
I pay tribute to the Serenity cafe, of which some members might be aware. It has recently moved to new premises at the Tun, which is just around the corner from the Parliament. It is a fantastic organisation that is linked to Comas. I encourage members to use that open cafe, which is run by people in recovery for people in recovery and for the nearby community. More than 40 people in recovery provide the services—they are involved in food preparation and in making and serving coffees, for example. For those people, that is part of learning how to play a part in society again and learning skills that will equip them to get back into work. We parliamentarians are based close to that organisation; perhaps we all have a role and a responsibility to encourage people in that environment to do the best that they can.
I will conclude, because I appreciate that time is tight. I have learned from the recovery community that the Government could do a couple of simple things that would not cost much but could make all the difference. One suggestion relates to the support that we offer families when a family member is in recovery. Often, the person who is recovering gets concessions for leisure activities or bus journeys, but the family gets no such concessions. If we extended to the children of recovering addicts free swimming and free bus travel to and from appointments, we would alleviate somewhat the financial pressure.
Another simple point relates to the appointments process. People in recovery being told that they must make a 3 o’clock appointment with their consultant, which is the time when they are picking up their kid from school—perhaps for the first time in a decade—creates stress that addicts really struggle with. That applies particularly to those who have had a lifetime of using benzodiazepines, which means that their stress hormone receptors are suppressed and they cannot deal with stress in the way that other people can.
Simple things could make all the difference. I would like to hear the minister’s response to these simple ideas.
10:02
I thank Kezia Dugdale for her informative speech—I will certainly visit the cafe that is just around the corner from here. I also thank Nanette Milne for initiating the debate. As many members have said, the problem affects many families throughout Scotland. Neil Bibby and other members were correct to mention the consensus in the debate. We all feel exactly the same way—we want to do something positive and work together.
I will expand on the benefits changes that the Westminster Government has proposed, and which Maureen Watt touched on. Under those changes, claimants who have drug and alcohol problems will be forced into accepting treatment. Otherwise, their benefits will be cut. Kezia Dugdale has talked about people with chaotic lifestyles being forced into treatment. It is difficult for such people to cope with bureaucracy. Conservative members should let their counterparts in Westminster know what we are doing in Scotland and tell them that the proposals will be counterproductive to the work that is being undertaken in Parliament and throughout Scotland. The changes are the worst thing that could happen to drug users. The demands that will be made on them will do more harm than good.
Christine Duncan of Scottish Families Affected by Drugs said:
“Proposals from the UK Government to link benefits with accessing drug and alcohol treatment are quite worrying as this would have the impact of adding pressure to someone’s personal attempts at recovery which can only impact even more on families and carers. We support the Scottish Drugs Forum call to the Scottish Government to maintain the thrust of the Road to Recovery.”
I accept what Nanette Milne said about recovery and relapse, but we need to look at the benefits system, because the changes will do more harm than good.
I pay tribute to the many groups and individuals who face every day the reality of drug abuse and its tragic consequences. For example, Glasgow North United Communities provides fantastic support to families and individuals whose lives have been affected and, in many cases, completely destroyed by drug abuse. As Neil Bibby and other members have, I have visited many such groups and individuals in the Glasgow area and know of situations in which grandparents look after their grandchildren, sometimes while still looking after their grown-up children who have drug problems. There are individuals who have reached rock-bottom and if it was not for the support of families and support groups, they simply would not be here today. I take my hat off to those grandparents. I will not recount individual constituents’ stories, but some of those stories would have you on your knees. They are people who are just trying to get through life.
Kezia Dugdale and others have referred to the stigma of drug abuse. We talk about families in terms of grandparents, mothers, brothers, sisters and fathers, but there is a bigger family out there and people with drugs problems have to spend a long while in recovery mode before they can get back into the family group as a mother or father, for example. I pay tribute to the effort that such people make. They sometimes do not have support at the start, but they tend to find it. However, it can still take them many years to recover.
Members may think that I am not being consensual in terms of the debate, but I believe that we need to look at the UK Government’s benefits changes. I hope that we are trying to ensure that people with drug problems are on the road to recovery and will not relapse, but if they are forced into getting treatment that may not be suitable for them, they probably will relapse and all the good work will be wasted.
10:06
I, too, thank the Conservatives for using their debating time this morning to highlight the role of families who are in recovery from drug abuse and—in particular—to highlight the work of the Grampian Family Support Forum. Nanette Milne has been steadfast in her support of its work and she has put its case well this morning. As another North East Scotland MSP, I am pleased to be able to speak in support of her motion, and will also support both amendments.
The Grampian Family Support Forum was established only a couple of years ago, but has already proved its worth. We all recognise that recovery from drug addiction is possible. We need to develop end-to-end support for people who face drug and alcohol problems by building closer links between community, in-patient and residential treatment and rehabilitation providers. Crucially, there must be close working between addiction services and aftercare providers so that individuals are not cast adrift when their treatment ends. Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that local people know best, and we would give local areas and organisations, including family support groups, the freedom to design and jointly commission drug and alcohol services to ensure that they meet local needs.
On-going support in the community is essential for the recovery journey and often includes mutual aid and other peer support. Those who have conquered their own addictions can contribute a huge amount of experience and support to those who are still battling addiction. We would like to see those who are in recovery being given the opportunity to give something back. We think that there would be a significant benefit in there being local networks of recovery champions. Such peer networks would involve those who are in recovery mentoring and providing support to individuals who are making their way through the recovery process.
We would like the Government to encourage local areas to develop and promote a whole-family approach to the delivery of recovery services, and to consider greater provision of support services for families and carers in their own right. That is where the work of the Grampian Families Support Forum can lead the way. The forum works closely with Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, which estimates that 24,000 family members are affected by loved ones’ drugs misuse in the Grampian region alone. Our families are, in so many circumstances, the lifeline that we rely on when we face difficulties. The particular tensions that drugs misuse brings to families can stretch that lifeline to breaking point, but there are still many barriers that prevent family members from seeking support for themselves, so the primary challenge is in breaking down those barriers.
Learning to cope with a loved one’s dependency, finding space to take care of oneself and the rest of the family, and overcoming the stigma that is associated with drug misuse, which other members have spoken about, can be overwhelmingly difficult. That is why support for families is vital and should not be an afterthought. I have no doubt that mutual support from local people with first-hand experience can be an immense support. There is much that we can learn from the Grampian Family Support Forum, and I hope that other parts of Scotland will benefit from their experience.
10:09
The debate has been very good, and it is timely and worth while. I thank Nanette Milne and the Conservatives for bringing the topic to the chamber. In the past year, since I was elected, many people in Dundee have told me that the Parliament should make drug misuse one of its biggest priorities as they see the devastating effects that it has on the community, so I am very pleased to speak in the debate.
Labour’s amendment highlights—in addition to the Grampian Family Support Forum, which does such good work—the work of organisations such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs that do similar work throughout the country. I know that SFAD has, in Dundee, been particularly active and successful in integrating the needs of families who are affected by drugs into the recovery process.
I will touch on a few speeches. Dr Simpson—as always—made a good contribution, and his call for further work on bereavement counselling for families who lose loved ones to drugs is, I hope, an issue that the minister will pick up on in her closing remarks.
Kezia Dugdale called for more naloxone programmes across the country. Mary Scanlon’s intervention about the mental health issues underlying many people’s addictions was pertinent and is, I hope, an issue that we might debate in the future.
Neil Bibby made a good opening speech on the effects on children. That is certainly the drugs issue that is closest to my heart, and I hear so many stories about it in my home city. He also raised the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide financial support for kinship carers. I hope that that, too, is an issue that the minister will address.
Kenneth Gibson made a good contribution on the further work that should be done to reduce long-term methadone dependency. I know that there are a number of projects across the country that are seeking to do that, but it is an area that the Government should examine more closely.
I was struck by the focus on families. I know the importance of that network, but it would be remiss of members to forget the drug addicts who do not have family support and, who, as a result of poverty, joblessness and homelessness, are alone and struggling with their addictions. I hope that that is also a subject that we can bring back to the chamber.
We should not forget the causes of drug addiction in our communities: the poverty and unemployment that lead to a cycle of hopelessness and no options, and then to desperation for a way out that can lead to dependence on drugs. Neither should we forget the lost generation of young parents and the children—some of whom also fall victim to drugs—who are living with grandparents, or the constituents who, as I said, see the devastating effects on their communities and plead with me to make the fight on drugs the priority of the Parliament.
I commend, on behalf of Labour, the work of people all over the country who work with the excellent family support services that were referred to by Nanette Milne. The selfless nature of the work is what sustains affected families and the projects. I commend Nanette Milne’s motion, and I lend Labour’s support to it.
10:13
I thank members for the many thoughtful contributions on a significant issue affecting families in Scotland. One of the essential values of the Scottish Parliament is its capacity to educate and to highlight important issues and, on occasions, genuinely to speak with one voice. This is an issue on which we are doing that.
However, we also need to highlight some of the work that Parliament is doing through the education and community partnerships team and its community partnerships project. That is a strong example of the Parliament giving a voice to people who might otherwise be underrepresented. I want to say to those families that we have heard what they have said to us, that we will not forget about them, and that we will continue to listen and to work to support them.
We can do that through our commitment to bringing down waiting times—access to services for drug users has changed overwhelmingly compared with what it was a few years ago—through our record funding of front-line drug treatment services, which is being preserved against the backdrop of difficult economic circumstances; through our direct funding for voluntary organisations such as SFAD; and through our commitment to tackling stigma and supporting the growth of recovery in communities the length and breadth of Scotland.
No one who has participated in today’s debate, or who has been involved in the community partnerships project, has not been moved by the challenging daily experience of families who are struggling with drug or alcohol problems. As Maureen Watt and Sandra White reminded us, decisions that are made elsewhere, such as in welfare reform, and which are designed for a very different approach to the drugs problem, can put those partnerships at risk. At the moment, we are still struggling with what looks to be a rule that says that no benefits can be given until the first substantive appointment, which does not include the first conversation with the GP. Even the three-week waiting time that we are getting down to will be a challenge for people who will have to face three weeks without benefits. There is no clarity about the way in which relapses will be treated, but in our system, we accept that relapses can sometimes be part of recovery.
Those are outstanding issues that we cannot get to the bottom of and are a worry for us, which is why welfare reform is an important part of the debate. I am proud of the steps that the Scottish Government is taking to support strong professional services and more rapid access to specialist care and support. However, we must remember that it is the families who are coping with their family member’s addiction 24/7 and who are supporting them in their recovery. I have met many such families in different parts of Scotland and I am always impressed and inspired by their resilience and commitment to the individual whom they love, and their capacity to forgive and to keep going, never giving up on their family and never losing sight of the potential of an individual to recover from addiction.
The value to those families of the organisations and local support groups that we have heard about this morning is immeasurable. Across Scotland, such organisations and groups are all punching above their weight and working from the strongest motivations of care and support. Organisations such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs offer access to advice and support, bring people together to share and learn from their experience, and continue to raise awareness of the needs of families.
As Richard Simpson suggested, we should also remember the families who have experienced bereavement as a consequence of addiction, and we should continue to build our awareness of the needs of families who are in recovery. We can learn a good deal from families on that aspect of what happens to them. The recovery happens event that was held in Parliament on 1 March was a great example of how politicians can learn from the lived experience of those who are directly affected.
At local level, ADPs across Scotland play their part in supporting community groups as part of local packages of action to tackle drug and alcohol problems. They make local decisions on the basis of local needs. I continue to be grateful to the partnership drugs initiative for its wise stewardship of Government funding while working locally across Scotland. Funds are being distributed, but we are also building capacity in local organisations to describe the impact and value of their work, and to share learning across the country. To answer Neil Bibby’s point, I say that that includes the looked after children regulations which, for the first time, empower local authorities to pay an allowance to kinship carers. In agreement with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, funding for that has been put in place. In March 2011, we also launched a national advice and support service for all kinship carers.
Liz Smith rightly reminded us of the major challenges that remain, and that evidence gathering and measuring outcomes are huge issues. That is correct, particularly when we want to empower local groups and not overwhelm them with bureaucratic demands. Kezia Dugdale and Alison McInnes also reminded us of how complex that can be.
Today, we can recommit to continue to listen to the families who need our support; to ensure that valuable examples of good work continue to be shared as a source of inspiration and example to others; and—as Mark MacDonald reminded us—to take care how we, as politicians, contribute to the debate in the comments that we are sometimes called upon to make.
To return to the specific point of Nanette Milne’s original speech, I say personally to Sheila McKay and the Grampian Family Support Forum that they have my thanks for the commitment that they have shown. I thank Sheila, for being, as a mother, a source of support and inspiration in the community; and I thank the forum for the work that it has done to raise Parliament’s awareness of this important issue.
10:19
I thank Nanette Milne for moving the motion and allowing a debate on one of the biggest issues that Scotland faces today. As Richard Simpson said, the debate has been largely consensual. We even had sight of one of the rarest creatures to be seen in the chamber—a consensual and non-partisan speech from Kenneth Gibson. However, I dare say that those who, like me, pine for more party-political knockabout will have to wait only a few moments until the next debate, when I am sure that normal service will be resumed.
Unfortunately, drugs are widespread throughout Scotland. People in all age groups take drugs, and they are in our cities and our rural communities. Some people take drugs recreationally; some people, sadly, are addicts and have their lives consumed as a result. Drugs can and do ruin lives, leading to isolation and cutting people off from their family and friends. As we have heard, addiction to drugs can lead to a rise in crime levels as individuals resort to theft in order to pay for their habit, thus having an impact on the law-abiding citizens who are victims as a result. Drugs impact on the whole of the victim’s family and on the wider community. We could take up a whole week’s debating time in debating drugs, the problems that they create for society and how we should combat them better, but today we are concentrating on rehabilitation and support for the families that are affected by drugs.
I was impressed to hear from Nanette Milne of the life-changing work that is done by the Grampian Family Support Forum in her parliamentary region. It is clear from the speeches of other members from the north-east who have come across that group just how much its work is valued. I join other members in congratulating the forum on its successful participation in the third phase of the Parliament’s community partnership project.
We can learn lessons from the good work that is being done in Grampian. There is a groundswell of excellent work being done throughout the country, involving voluntary groups in collaboration with local authorities and health boards. In Mid Scotland and Fife, we have groups such as the Drug and Alcohol Project Limited, which offers one-to-one counselling, support, information and advice to individuals and families who are affected by substance abuse and who live in Fife. The Drug and Alcohol Project Limited has experienced workers who provide an essential service to families that are affected by drugs, which is free and confidential. There is also the community alcohol and drug service for the Forth valley, which offers services, help and advice, and the Perth drug and alcohol service, which is run jointly by Perth and Kinross Council and the national health service, does a great deal of vital work in the local area and provides support to families. Those are just some of the tremendous groups in my area that carry out vital work for individuals who are addicted to drugs and give personal support to families who can otherwise feel helpless as they see a loved one consumed by addiction.
The message is clear: support for families who are affected by drug abuse is crucial in a national drugs strategy. We need a national drugs strategy that works and makes a real difference for individuals who want to stop taking drugs, and I welcome the minister’s comments, which show that the Scottish Government recognises that.
Roseanna Cunningham touched on the question of waiting times. Each year, the Scottish Government agrees a number of national NHS performance targets that are known as health improvement, efficiency, access and treatment targets. NHS boards and the Scottish Government monitor boards’ progress against the national HEAT targets and the progress is published on the Scottish Government’s Scotland performs website. I welcome the openness of the targets, as it is important that we all have the opportunity to measure how well individual health boards are doing.
On drug recovery services that are delivered by the NHS, the HEAT target states:
“By March 2013, 90 per cent of clients will wait no longer than 3 weeks from referral received to appropriate drug or alcohol treatment that supports their recovery.”
Between October and December 2011, the Scotland average for meeting the HEAT target was 84.9 per cent of individuals waiting no longer than three weeks from referral to receive treatment. That is impressively close to meeting the target fully. However, the picture in different parts of the country is not so good. In NHS Tayside, in the area that I represent and where Roseanna Cunningham is based, only 65.9 per cent of patients wait no longer than three weeks from referral to receive
“appropriate drug or alcohol treatment that supports their recovery.”
Only NHS Lothian has a worse record. It is important that all health boards put in place the necessary resources and expertise that will bring about improvements in waiting times. If we are serious about pursuing this agenda, it is essential that individuals who seek or need help should not have to wait any longer than three weeks from referral to receive treatment. One of the first acts towards recovery is wanting to recover. However, when people make that decision and that choice, the necessary services to help them and their families must be available.
To the one or two SNP members who raised the issue of welfare reform and its consequences, I gently make the point that they should perhaps look first at the areas in which the Scottish Government has control and responsibility before looking at areas that are outside its remit.
Neil Bibby and Mark McDonald raised the important issue of tackling stigma. Too much stigma is attached to drug addicts, and that has an impact on their families. We must work much harder to address that, because that can often be a barrier to people coming forward and seeking help.
Neil Bibby and Liz Smith raised the important issue of kinship care. Liz Smith was clear that we have failed to deliver on the promises that have been made to kinship carers. We must all work harder to make better progress on that issue.
We must assist families who are affected by drug abuse, and we must ensure that children who are affected by a parent or parents who have a drug problem are properly supported.
Drug addiction is a social ill, but it is also a complicated and a serious issue. It is easy for us to stand up in this chamber and say that we must help individuals to get off drugs and provide support to their families. It is much harder to ensure that that happens in practice. Groups such as the forum in Grampian are on the ground and are doing some of the hardest, most rewarding and most important work in Scotland. That is why I commend the motion and the amendments to the chamber.