SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor has welcomed millions of pounds of funding from the Scottish Government for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, including those in North Lanarkshire.
Announced by Scotland’s Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, £145.3m will be committed to alcohol and drugs services, including £50m to reduce drugs deaths in Scotland.
Last week, the SNP Government provided £3 million for NHS boards to increase provision of residential drug rehabilitation placements and improve access to treatment and harm reduction services – including £196,779 for North Lanarkshire HSCP.
The Scottish Budget 2021-22 commits £16 billion in total to improving the nation’s health and supporting the NHS in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commenting SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:
“The millions of pounds committed in the Scottish Budget to tackling drugs deaths demonstrates how seriously the SNP Scottish Government is taking the issue,
“Over the past year, the pandemic has presented an incredible challenge for our health and support services and that has been recognised by the Scottish Government with a commitment of £145m into drug and alcohol services.
“We have some fantastic services in North Lanarkshire, some of which are run by volunteers who give up their time to help the recovery of others. I am sure this funding will be a boost to them.
“We know that action is needed now to tackle the drugs death emergency Scotland faces. Along with the appointment of the new Drugs Minister, the SNP Government is making significant steps to tackle Scotland’s drugs crisis.
“The SNP will continue to provide investment for direct interventions to address health inequalities, exacerbated by COVID-19, to create a Scotland where we can all live longer, healthier lives.”
Fulton MacGregor 