Funding announced for Scottish drug services

The Scottish Government has announced £14 million of funding for additional residential rehabilitation capacity.

Three organisations that support people with problem drug use will receive the funding to increase the number of residential rehabilitation placements. 225 extra placements will be created as a result.

Phoenix Futures will receive £11,395,475 for a facility in the North East which will eventually support 80 placements at any one time - up to 200 placements annually. There will also be a structured day programme to enable local people to access the rehab services.

Six new beds, equating to up to 22 placements per year will be created in Iverness by CrossReach at their existing Beechwood House facility with a grant of £2,386,865. The Maxie Richards Foundation in Tighnabruaich has also been awarded £468,500 to fund a renovation and expansion of their premises, which will result in one additional bed –  three additional placements per year.

Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said: “This second round of funding from the Residential Rehabilitation Rapid Capacity Programme will make a huge difference in increasing provision in areas which need it most.

“Coupled with the previous investment, this additional capacity takes us to almost 600 residential rehabilitation beds in Scotland – well on our way to increasing capacity by 50% from 425 in 2021 to 650 by the end of this Parliament. The aim is to have at least 1,000 people publicly funded to go to rehab every year by 2026.

“Anyone who needs support should have access to whatever type of treatment or recovery works best for them and that’s why we are investing a total of £100 million in residential rehabilitation over the course of this Parliament.”

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