NHS Dumfries & Galloway

Significant rise in drug deaths in first half of 2021

A SIGNIFICANT increase has been recorded in the number of suspected drug-related deaths in Dumfries and Galloway. 

Although newly-published numbers for 2020 show a reduction in the number of confirmed drug-related deaths within the region compared to 2019, in the first six months of 2021 there was a total of 25 suspected drug-related deaths. 

These are suspected drug-related deaths which have yet to be confirmed. However, they currently represent a 39 per cent increase over the same period last year and come despite ongoing, concerted efforts to promote measures which can cut drug deaths – including the provision of free Naloxone kits which can help reverse an overdose. 

Independent Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drug Partnership Grahame Clarke said: “Deaths through drugs are preventable, so any loss of life is a matter of huge regret. 

“However, the increase in numbers so far this year compared to 2020 is very marked, and we are asking everyone to help do what they can to help address this deeply concerning situation.” 

Mr Clarke points to specific current concerns that people are taking drugs in combination, with evidence of opioids like heroin and methadone being taken along with illicit tablets they believe are benzodiazepines 

However, he notes that there is not one single, obvious reason for the increase in suspected drug-related deaths – meaning that a variety of approaches are being applied. 

As part of a growing multi-agency campaign which includes the creation of a new dedicated website for the region, drug users are being reminded of the key things they can do to reduce the risk of overdose. 

This messaging includes the advice: 

  • Don’t take drugs alone – most suspected fatal overdoses have involved someone taking drugs alone. Taking drugs alone increases the chance of fatally overdosing, because there is no one to call for help in an emergency.   
  • Don’t take a combination of drugs, drugs that haven’t been prescribed and or drugs that may have been bought over the internet. This includes alcohol and prescribed medication. Mixing drugs greatly increases the risk of overdose, particularly if you don’t know exactly what they are or what effect they will have.  
  • Don’t try new substances, increase or reduce thequantity of drugs or alcohol being regularly taken without support from your GP or Drug and Alcohol treatment Service. If trying any new substances, try a very small amount at first, so you know how it might affect you. 
  • Get a Naloxone kit. Naloxone is a medication that temporarily reverses the effects of a heroin or other opioid overdose and allows time for someone to seek emergency help.  Friends and family can also get a Naloxone kit  
  • Dial 999 immediately if you believe that someone is having an overdose or if you feel unwell after taking any drugs. When someone has overdosed, they can look and sound like they are simply asleep; snoring can be an indication the person is having breathing difficulties. Always check when you hear snoring that the person is actually asleep.   
      

Friends and family are also being urged to help by encouraging their loved ones to follow these steps and by encouraging them to seek help either from their GP or from local drug and alcohol treatment services.   

Mr Clarke said: “At the moment we are seeing a rise in our suspected drug deaths and are looking at these in more detail. We also know that people are taking different drugs in combination which greatly increased the risk to them. In particular, we are seeing evidence of people taking opioids like heroin and methadone along with illicit tablets they believe are benzodiazepines (often called benzos, valium or vallies) that are bought online or on the streets.”  

Mr Clarke said that these combinations of drugs can have a sedating or toxic effect on the body, and he urged drug users not to mix drugs or to take street tablets, no matter how long they had been taking drugs.  

“Drug users were also being reminded not to try new substances or to try a very small amount at first to see how it affected them. 

Mr Clarke added: “We know the devastating effect that drug deaths have on families and communities. 

“Drug deaths are preventable and that’s why we want to make sure that we tell people about the risks to them and how they can get help.   

“Every single drug-related death is a cause for major regret, and there is a determination from within the ADP to continue to work across Dumfries and Galloway with partners, people who use drugs and their families to reduce the risk of drug-related deaths as much as we possibly can.” 

The message from Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drug Partnership is being echoed and supported by Dumfries and Galloway Local Resilience Partnership in the form of its partners Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Police Scotland, Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership. 

The new website www.stopdgdrugdeaths.co.uk has gone live, initially launching with key information aimed at trying to help drug-related deaths – and continually growing as the campaign expands over coming weeks. 

9 thoughts on “Significant rise in drug deaths in first half of 2021”

  1. CharlesAcari

    The truth is an individual implicated with a crime will probably receive a half-baked offer, with no expertises of a qualified attorney. Therefore, if you or a member of family happens to be implicated of carrying out a wrongdoing, do not hesitate to make contact with certainly one of our Los Angeles county criminal defense lawyers professionals. Our team We simply load our very own ranks with all the top rated law psyche in the community. Our team of authentic pros are extremely proficient in what the law states together with red tape that complicates a quantity of criminal record litigation cases. Our criminal defense lawyers are true pros. These attorneys should never pass personal judgment on a customer faced with heinous offenses such as murder, rape as well as child molestation. They must and to the very best of their ability defend a customer whom they might directly know to be blameworthy regarding the crime for which these are generally charged. Yet again, they have to put away individual values and beliefs and guard a customer that’s been charged with committing atrocious actions. Therefore, learning to be a criminal defense legal representative not merely requires effort but true character to defending every single man or woman’s protection under the law granted underneath the law. Each situation provides its very own distinct sets of concerns despite which region of the court room your client is located. To all sorts of law you can find pros and cons, however with criminal law the majority appear to only start to see the cons. There’s always the likelihood of a inappropriate sentence, a mistrial as part of a really crucial case, or the dangers of working with vicious criminal, exclusively their particular income and various criminal types of large earnings. Many law firms, legal firms will concur that there is a long directory of negativies, furthermore damaging responses that follow the position, but the majority effective legal representatives appear to be in a position to see at night severe words and practices, as they are in a position to begin to see the good that is released of practicing criminal law. The great verdicts in which further establish your customers sinlessness to your subdivision, all of the the cases and clients, together with capacity to be cross investigating witnesses into the court room virtually every occasion, are often considered. If you wish to read more info on this post subject matter examine my very own karate web-site: slip and fall accidents injury lawyer riverside available Rancho Cucamonga CA

  2. CharlesAcari

    The fact is that an individual implicated in a crime will probably get a bleak offer, minus the options of a competent attorney. Therefore, in the event that you or a member of family happens to be accused of committing a criminal activity, do not forget to make contact with certainly one of our Los Angeles county criminal defense lawyer pros. Our associates We single occupy our positions using the top rated law psyche in the neighborhood. All of us of legal professionals are extremely proficient in the law plus the bureaucratic procedure that complicates a total of criminal arrest litigation cases. Our criminal defense attorney are true specialists. These lawyers must not pass personal judgment on a customer charged with heinous violations such as murder, rape and even child molestation. They have to and to the best of their ability defend a client that they might privately think to be accountable associated with the crime by which these are typically charged. Also, they need to put away individual values additionally beliefs and protect a customer that is charged with carrying out ineffable actions. Which means, getting to be a criminal defense attorney at law not merely usually requires work however true character to defending every single person’s defenses provided underneath the law. Each circumstances shows its very own distinct sets of obstacles despite which side of the court room your defendant is found. To all types of law you will find pros and cons, however with criminal law the majority seem to only begin to see the cons. Often there is the possibility of a unlawful judgment of conviction, a mistrial as part of an incredibly crucial case, or the dangers of working with vicious villain, exclusively the bread and butter and various criminal sourced elements of large pay. Many counselors can easily agree that there is certainly more information on disadvantages, and damaging feedback that just follow the occupation, but most prosperous attorneys seem to be in a position to see beyond the harsh words and strategies, and generally are in a position to look at good that comes out of engaging in criminal law. The fantastic verdicts in which additionally confirm your customers pureness into the residential area, the range of the cases and clients, and also the power to be cross reviewing witnesses within the court room virtually every 24 hours, usually are thought. If you want to gain knowledge of more about this kind of subject matter click on excellent martial art website online: burn injuries lawyer in fontana in and around Chino CA

  3. CharlesAcari

    The truth is an individual implicated of a crime will probably use a primitive bargain, without having the services of a reliable attorney. Therefore, in the event that you or a member of family happens to be accused of carrying out a wrongdoing, do not hesitate to get hold of certainly one of our Orange county criminal defense attorneys gurus. Our team We simply load every rank and file utilizing the top rated judiciary intellects in the neighborhood. Our team of judiciary specialists have become proficient in what the law states as well as the bureaucratic procedure which complicates a quantity of offender court cases. Our criminal defense law firms are true industry experts. These attorneys must not pass personal judgment on a customer faced with extreme offenses such as murder, rape as well as child molestation. They have to and to the best of their capability defend a client who they might directly believe to be blameworthy associated with crime by which these are generally charged. Once again, they have to put away particular viewpoints furthermore viewpoints and protect a customer which has been faced with committing atrocious behaviors. Subsequently, coming to be a criminal defense lawyer or attorney not just normally requires effort but true character to defending each and every man or woman’s privileges awarded beneath the law. Every situation provides its own distinct groups of difficulties regardless of which region of the court room your very own client is found. With all types of law you will find advantages and disadvantages, but with criminal law the majority look to only start to see the cons. There is always the likelihood of a wrongful indictment, a mistrial at a very crucial case, and the risks of coping with severe lawbreaker, exclusively her sustenance and differing criminal sourced elements of large revenue. Many law firms, legal firms might concur that there is certainly more information on downsides, additionally damaging suggestions that go along with the career, but the majority profitable law firms appear to be in a position to see beyond the severe words and actions, and generally are in a position to start to see the good that is released of practicing criminal law. The large verdicts which moreover establish your customers innocence into the neighborhood, the range of the cases and clients, additionally the capacity to be cross inspecting witnesses in the court room nearly every night, usually are thought about. Should you want to discover more info on your content travel to a martial arts internet site: hesperia personal injury lawyer about Corona CA

  4. CharlesAcari

    The truth is a person implicated of a crime will probably claim a half-baked deal, minus the options of a reliable attorney. Therefore, in the event that you or a member of family happens to be implicated of carrying out a criminal offence, don’t stop to get hold of one of our Los Angeles county criminal defense law firm pros. Our team Our firm only load all of our ranks utilizing the great professional intellects in the community. All of us of law workers are extremely proficient in the law plus the bureaucratic procedure that complicates a range of criminal record cases. Our criminal defense attorney are true specialists. These law firms should never pass personal judgment on a customer faced with heinous offenses such as for example murder, rape as well as child molestation. They need to and to the very best of their capability defend a customer which they could individually believe to be guilty associated with the crime by which these are generally charged. Also, they need to put away personalized values and viewpoints and guard a customer that has been charged with carrying out ineffable behaviors. Therefore, coming to be a criminal defense attorney at law not merely might take work but true character to defending every single man or woman’s protection under the law provided underneath the law. Every single circumstances reveals its very own distinct sets of challenges regardless of which region of the court room your very own client rests. Along with all sorts of law you can find pros and cons, but with criminal law many seem to simply begin to see the cons. Often there is the possibility of a unjust conviction, a mistrial at a remarkably worthwhile case, and the dangers of coping with merciless offender, especially her sustenance and differing criminal resources of large dollars. Many legal professionals do agree that there clearly was a long directory of disadvantages, and damaging feedback that simply follow the job, but most effective legal professionals seem to be in a position to see beyond the tough words and practices, and are also in a position to look at good that comes out of engaging in criminal law. The fantastic verdicts in which furthermore show your potential clients purity into the community, the range of the cases and clients, as well as the capacity to be cross investigating witnesses into the court room virtually every night, usually are thought. If you want to study more info on this unique focus stop by my personal martial art website: 311.11(a) in the region of San Bernardino California

  5. How Engaging A State Welfare Ineptitude Counsel Is Significant.
    Enlisting One Public Assistance Incapability Attorney Turns Out to Be Indispensable.

    The Sensitive Social Aid Manages various initiatives from job security support to social aid, and also takes care of inability compensation for folks incompetent to engage in employment due to persistent health issues or damage. As with any intricate organization, there are guidelines and laws which must be complied with by the body in order to obtain beneficial outcomes. Exploring the option of an expert SSA counsel Is vital.

    Engaging the qualified Social Security Disability counsel could guide you deal with the difficulties of SSA Services for Secure Aging, boosting your possibility of sanction for perks. They shall confirm that your request is registered accurately and includes substantiating medical evidence; moreover, they recognize how to amass this evidence swiftly so it is not submitted late; moreover, they might circumvent supplying irrelevant data that could result in delays and rejections by the Services for Secure Aging.

    Your specialized professional in disabilities will also prime you for a hearing with SSA if your application is dismissed, by describing what to await at it and addressing any of your questions about what happens there. They might guide with giving additional evidence and asking the justice who heard your legal case to inspect their decision and grill witnesses or career professionals called by SSA to testify on your behalf, which could raise the chance that an first appeal for disability prevails if at the outset denied. Attorneys specializing in social security disability might regain any past due advantages owing to changes in the starting date, which denotes when your situation began. Proficient disability supporters will support with winning back any past due advantages that would have been lost due to changes in the starting date or when your health condition began.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *