Question reference: S6W-19368
- Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 June 2023
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Current status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 10 July 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the research study, being carried out for Public Health Scotland by Figure 8 Consultancy, Glyndwr University and King's College London, into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst those who use drugs in Scotland, does not also include in its scope those who are alcohol dependent, in light of it being "part of a wider national programme aiming to improve drug and alcohol support, involving a range of organisations, people with lived and living experience, and their family members/carers."
Answer
Public Health Scotland have been commissioned to conduct a monitoring and evaluation programme for residential rehabilitation policy, as a part of the wider National Mission evaluation, on behalf of the Scottish Government. We recognise that residential rehabilitation provides support to people with drug and alcohol problems, and as part of this evaluation programme, Public Health Scotland will ensure that people with lived experience of both drug and alcohol use are consulted.
As part of the evaluation, Public Health Scotland have begun research into the demand for residential rehabilitation for people who use drugs, carried out by Figure 9 consultancy. In this research study, individuals will be asked whether they experience problems with alcohol, alongside their drug use. Therefore, whilst the focus of the research is on drug use, alcohol is not completely out with the scope of the study. The wider portfolio of support available to individuals is different for individuals who use drugs and those who do not. This difference in the support offer is why this research study is taking a targeted approach, focusing on individuals who use drugs, and the support available specifically to them.