Drugs Treatment Crisis in West Lothian

That the Parliament understands that patients in West Lothian waiting for help to address problem drug and alcohol use are having wait twice the length of time on average than other patients across Scotland; notes that, of the 138 people referred to West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service, only 38.9% were seen within three weeks; considers that in the midst of a declared “national emergency” this is simply unacceptable; understands that the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing claims the situation is caused by “staffing and capacity issues”, and calls on the Scottish Government to allocate appropriate resources to address what it sees as this critical situation.