Dundee City Council has launched its revised drug and alcohol recovery plan.
It is hoped the five-year strategy will reduce the city’s drug death toll.
In June, leaders from across the Dundee Partnership issued a statement of intent following the publication of the Dundee Drug Commission’s update report.
The document included a commitment to co-produce a City Year of Hope, Kindness and Compassion.
This will be a whole city response to vulnerable citizens impacted by trauma and adversities, focusing on reducing stigma.
It will include active contributions from citizens, communities, civic leaders, public bodies and the third and private sector.
Now, a revised Strategic Framework and Delivery Plan for Drug and Alcohol Recovery is being developed.
It recognises poverty and deprivation, as well as the range of trauma and adversities that contribute to high levels of drug and alcohol related harm.
Some of the key commitments in the delivery plan include:
- Enhancing 24/7 crisis care responses and integrated responses to drug and alcohol and mental health needs.
- Enhancing the role of Community Pharmacies in delivering treatment and support to people who use drugs and alcohol.
- A continued focus on rapid response to non-fatal overdose and to learning from these incidents to inform prevention activity.
- A range of actions to enhance services and supports for vulnerable women.
Councillor John Alexander, city council leader and chair of the Dundee Partnership, said: “I am keen that efforts to make Dundee a City of Recovery involve as many groups, organisations and people as possible.
“We are heartened by the fall in drug deaths reflected in statistics, but we are not complacent.
“No one agency can tackle these decades-old problems on their own, and there is no one simple solution that can be applied in a short timescale.
“I am aware that there are frustrations about the situation, but our resolve needs to remain firm for the future of our city.
“We cannot allow the death toll to continue."
And he added: “Individuals and families have suffered so much pain because of the devastating consequences of addiction.
“It is in their name that we are enhancing our efforts to improve the situation.”
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Dundee and Tayside. Sign up to our newsletters here
And did you know Dundee Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and a share
READ NEXT:
- TikTok star with 10 million hits a month graduating from Dundee University
- Future of Dundee pub firm Macmerry in doubt as HMRC seeks to wind up company
- Strictly Come Dancing tour heading to Dundee with fan favourites lined up
