10. Planning and Co-ordination of Response
RECOMMENDATION 13
Under the auspices of the ADATs each area should establish a local standing drug deaths monitoring and prevention group that involves key agencies in order to manage rapid sharing of information on near misses, deaths and street drug trends, to instigate action and report on progress in implementing proposals to reduce deaths. |
The Executive supports this recommendation.
A number of ADATs already have local drug death monitoring groups. In some areas where there are none or low numbers of drug deaths a 'group' may not be necessary. Local situations will determine the best practical application for each ADAT area.
The rapid sharing of information is possible through the national drug deaths database, maintained by the SDEA on behalf of ACPOS, which is unique in that it is a source of up-to-date data on drug-related deaths in Scotland. The database includes information from all Scottish police forces on deaths that come into the ACPOS definition of a drugs death, namely - 'where there is prima facie evidence of a fatal overdose of controlled drugs. Such evidence would be recent drug misuse, for example controlled drugs and/or a hypodermic syringe found in close proximity to the body and/or the person is known to the police as a drug misuser although not necessarily a notified addict'.
TAKING ACTION
- The Executive will produce a half-yearly newsletter to share with ADATs and others information on drug deaths obtained at a national level. This may include details of new research, new information materials and examples of good practice. The newsletter will be disseminated via the Drug Misuse Information Scotland website.
- The SDEA produces a monthly spreadsheet showing year-to-date figures on the number and distribution of drug-related deaths in each police force and ADAT area, compared with the same period the previous year. The value of this information is the opportunity to identify trends and to inform practice and decision making at a local level. This information is also made available to the Executive.