Annie Wells

19 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the national service specification for alcohol and drug services.

Answer · Neil Gray: Development of the National Specification for substance use services is underway and we expect to publish in the first quarter of 2025

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to raise female life expectancy above the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level of 81 years.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Tackling health inequalities and improving life expectancy remain clear aims of the Scottish Government. To achieve this, we are taking forward wide-ranging action targeted to support communities most in need and address the root causes of inequality; which h…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the designated target for the number of rehabilitation placements by 2026 is 1,000.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In November 2021, the former Minister for Drugs Policy announced a commitment to increase the number of people publicly funded to go through residential rehab per year by 300% to 1,000 by 2026.Results from the Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) Survey, publis…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many children are currently estimated to live in a household in which at least one parent or parental figure exhibited hazardous drinking behaviour, following the findings of the 2019 Public Health Survey.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Prevalence of children living with a parent with hazardous or harmful drinking levels was published in the 2019 Scottish Health Survey Report, available here:https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-health-survey-2019-volume-1-main-report/pages/7/. Scottish…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase breast health awareness.

Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Inform provides information regarding breast health, such as on the possible signs of breast cancer with recommendations to contact a GP with any concerns. All women aged 50-70 in Scotland are invited for breast screening every three years.Evidence shows …

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve waiting times for endometriosis diagnosis.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.Through the Women’s Hea…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to address the reported concerns of local residents that live within the immediate vicinity of the safer drug consumption room in Glasgow.

Answer · Neil Gray: Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) has hosted 12 local community drop in engagement sessions within the Calton and surrounding area focused on allowing local residents the opportunity to raise concerns, ask questions and engage with the project l…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to test for the use of any newer illicit substances by prisoners, such as psychoactive drugs, that are currently undetectable by urine tests.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:Following the introduction of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, SPS took the decision to not seek to amend its mandatory drug testin…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote better public knowledge regarding daily alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is working closely with key stakeholders, including NHS Scotland and third sector to ensure that health professionals embed conversations about alcohol consumption and the risk it carries in developing a range of cancers, for example t…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specific strategies are in place to address cancers linked to alcohol misuse.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Through promoting healthy living by reducing alcohol misuse we can reduce the risk of developing some cancers. The Scottish Government published our Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033 and initial Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-2026 in June 2023. The…

11 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide extra funding to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) services, in light of the reported announcement of increased funding for Scotland as part of the UK Budget.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are committed to ensuring that people living with respiratory conditions receive the best possible care, treatment and support. Our Respiratory Care Action Plan sets our priorities and commitments for driving improvement in the prevention, diagnosis, care,…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to educate young people on alcoholmarketing in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is working to ensure children and young people learn about a variety of substances including alcohol, medicines, drugs, tobacco and solvents as part of Curriculum for Excellence. Our aim is by educating children and young people about …

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address any link between breast cancer rates and alcohol consumption among women.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Cancer remains a national priority, within the Scottish Government and across NHS Scotland. Our Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033 was published in June 2023.We know that there is a clear relationship between alcohol consumption and increased risk of deve…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce any stigma for women wishing to access services pertaining to alcohol misuse.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government are working to address the stigma that people affected by substance use issues face when accessing treatment, which can be particularly acute for women.We made a combined £13.5 million available to Phoenix Futures and Aberlour Ch…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce any stigma surrounding women accessing drug misuse services.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government are working to implement specific recommendations from the Drug Deaths Taskforce relating to the stigma that women very often face when accessing drug and alcohol treatment.We are working to ensure that a gender-sensitive approach is t…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the main barriers are that reportedly prevent women from accessing alcohol misuse support and rehabilitation services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government pathways report: Pathways into, through and out of Residential Rehabilitation in Scotland: Results from the Residential Rehabilitation Providers Survey (www.gov.scot), published in November 2021, serves as a baseline to help identify s…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to protect children from alcohol advertisements in shops and stores.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to progressing work on protecting children and young people from exposure to alcohol marketing. It was clear from our earlier public consultation that there was a wide range of views on alcohol marketing proposals, in…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address any barriers that prevent women from accessing support and rehabilitation services for drug misuse.

Answer · Jenni Minto: As residential rehabilitation is a cross-cutting intervention for both alcohol and drug use, the answer provided to one of the member’s proceeding questions (ref. S6W-31156 on 21 November 2024), specific to alcohol use is also applicable to this questio…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address any barriers that prevent women from accessing support and rehabilitation services for alcohol misuse.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has made a combined £13.5 million available to Phoenix Futures and Aberlour Childcare Trust to support the creation of three new rehabilitation services specifically designed to support women through recovery from both alcohol an…

31 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what is the expert national working group that it has partnered with to improve family support and inclusive family practices across drug and alcohol services.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government national working group set up to improve family support and inclusive family practices across drug and alcohol services, includes members from the following organisations:Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA)Aberlour…

31 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done through its National Mission to ensure that drug support services are available at weekends.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that local areas provide support at all times and that they assess the needs of people in their areas and work with them to design and deliver services in a way that meets the needs of people impacted by drugs and alc…

31 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its framework is to improve holistic family support for those affected by drugs and alcohol.

Answer · Neil Gray: Our framework Drug and alcohol services - improving holistic family support - gov.scot (www.gov.scot), which was published on 8 December 2021, sets out principles of how we will improve holistic support for families affected by drugs and alcohol by taking a w…

31 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation is taking place with the community in Glasgow where the drug consultation facility has opened to assess the impact of this on members of this community.

Answer · Neil Gray: Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership will assess the impact of the opening of the Safer Drug Consumption Facility on the community in which it is operating. This will be led by Public Health Scotland academics.Significant time has been invested in engag…

31 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how young people get recommended for the Routes programme that is run by Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and Alcohol, which supports young people with substance use in their families.

Answer · Neil Gray: Young people can be referred to Routes from anywhere but are mainly referred to Routes by schools. Referrals are also made by addiction services, GPs, local authorities, social workers and family members. Young people often refer friends and they can self-ref…

31 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where the Routes programme that is run by Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and Alcohol, which supports young people with substance use in their families, is currently operating.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs supports young people through the Routes programme in East and West Dunbartonshire. Through Scottish Government funding, Routes has expanded to ‘Grow Your Own Routes’ partnership services at Barnardo…

31 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many young people have been helped by the Routes model that is run by Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and Alcohol, which supports young people with substance use in their families.

Answer · Neil Gray: In 2023-24, there was a monthly average caseload of 134 young people supported by the service, this included 1818 hours of one-to-one sessions, 1,234 group services, 241 hours in professional meetings with housing, education and teaching. This information can…

31 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the composition is of the members of the Design Team of the Drug Deaths Taskforce.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Design Team is the group of people with lived or living experience of drug harm that has been recruited by Deciding Matters, the small company charged with developing the nature and direction of the Stigma Plan (which was a recommendation of the Drug Deat…

29 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve life expectancy and tackle any health inequalities affecting the most disadvantaged communities.

22 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report, “Understanding Substance Use and the Wider Support Needs of Scotland’s Prison Population”, which states that some prisoners have admitted to using drugs while in prison, how many prisoners it estimates have switched to using psychoactive drugs i…

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS does not record this information.

22 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on what the main routes are for any illicit drugs that are present in prisons and used by prisoners. 

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS has invested in technology to support and enhance an existing range of security measures and remains vigilant to the continuously ev…