Question reference: S6W-17473
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 25 April 2023
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Current status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 11 May 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to reduce the rates of alcohol-related deaths, in light of reports that they are at their highest rate for over a decade.
Answer
My deepest sympathy goes to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through alcohol. In the most recent data, we are starting to see the profound impact the pandemic has had on those with problematic alcohol use. We will use this information to understand how we can better support those who need it.
We are working collaboratively with Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) across Scotland to understand and help resolve local issues and support them in identifying ways to improve services, such as monitoring waiting times. Last year, £106.8 million was made available to ADPs, and nationally there is ongoing work including the upcoming UK Alcohol Treatment Guidelines, development of alcohol treatment targets for April 2024 and the expansion of our Residential Rehab capacity by 50% by the end of the current Parliament.
We remain determined to reduce alcohol-related harm. That is why we have introduced initiatives such as Minimum Unit Pricing, which recent research estimated has saved more than 150 lives a year and led to 411 fewer hospital admissions.