A West Dunbartonshire Partnership to reduce drug and alcohol deaths has changed its strategy after the rate of deaths increased by 30% last year.

A report was given to the Health & Social Care Partnership Board members on drug related deaths in West Dunbartonshire in 2023 this week.

The document showed a 30% increase in drug-related deaths between 2022 and 2023 compared to 18.3% in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and 11.5% in Scotland.

Members of the committee heard that drug-related deaths and drug harms remain a significant public health concern. 

The report went on to say that the number of deaths has steadily increased in West Dunbartonshire for many years, particularly over the past decade, and the rate of deaths in West Dunbartonshire has been consistently higher than in Scotland as a whole.

West Dunbartonshire drug deaths had previously been falling after a 'peak' in 2019 until the recently announced figures were released

A refreshed strategy by the West Dunbartonshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) has outlined key commitments to lower this figure.

Supporting young people affected by substance abuse, enhancing outreach programs, providing community education and reducing barriers to treatment access are some of the agendas in the new strategy.

Councillor Fiona Hennebry, West Dunbartonshire social work spokesperson, said: “I was shocked to learn that we had a 30% increase in the number of drug deaths in West Dunbartonshire in 2023.

“Every single drug-related death is tragic on its own, but the loss is felt much wider by families and friends who have lost a loved one.

“Despite all our initiatives to prevent drug misuse, such as supporting those directly affected by drug misuse, and the specific interventions designed to save lives, we are still seeing unacceptable high levels of drug deaths in our community."