Support essential to tackle substance use

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Two sets of drug and alcohol harm statistics published today in Scotland highlight the need for targeted recovery support when and where it is needed, according to The Salvation Army.

• Public Health Scotland's Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report shows that heroin is still prominent in overdose reporting and drug-related harm in Scotland remains at a high level.

• The latest Alcohol-specific deaths (2025) data from National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that while alcohol deaths have been falling overall, less well-off communities are massively over represented compared to richer areas and the gap is widening.

The church and charity is warning that despite some welcome progress in recent years too many people are still dying due to a lack of support across all forms of substance use and through poor access to what is available.

Lee Ball, Director of Addictions at The Salvation Army, said: 

"Every death and every serious harm linked to drugs or alcohol represents a person, a family and a community experiencing loss. While the substances involved may change over time, the impact of addiction on people's lives and communities remains devastating and inequality contained in this data is stubbornly familiar.

"For the past two years, deaths due to alcohol were more than four times higher in less well-off communities than more affluent areas. This trend is continuing and the gap widened last year according to these latest statistics, with alcohol-specific deaths in the most deprived parts of Scotland 4.8 times higher than in the least deprived(1). Although addiction is a chronic health condition, prevention and protection require more than medically treating the symptoms. It also needs investment in services that address root causes such as poverty, homelessness, abuse and trauma. I welcome the progress contained in both sets of data released today. However, stark inequalities remain and dealing with all types of substance use is a social justice issue as well as a public health issue."

People using drugs or alcohol should be able to access addiction support where and when it is needed, according to The Salvation Army. This was a key recommendation contained in its report, Breaking the Cycle(2). The report highlighted significant barriers which currently prevent some people accessing the essential wrap-around support they need, including lack of support in the evening and at weekends.

Dr Hannah Carver, Associate Professor at the Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services & Research (SACASR) at University of Stirling, said:

"Our work consistently shows there is a need for continued investment into drug and alcohol services to ensure people can receive treatment that meets their needs and that a range of options should be available to people at every stage of their recovery, particularly those who are most marginalised. Our See Beyond, See the Lives, Scotland campaign highlighted the negative impact that drug- and alcohol-related deaths can have on family members and close friends and the wide range of support that they also require."

To find out more about The Salvation Army's Addictions work visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/addiction-support. The Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services and Research at University of Stirling is at https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/faculty-of-health-sport-and-society/salvation-army-centre-for-addiction-services-and-research/