Substance misuse costs Scotland at least two and half billion pounds a year. Millions upon millions have been spent on trying to tackle drug use and drug addiction, yet drug use and deaths in Scotland remain at their highest level in decades and politicians of all description agree that the public bill for prescription substitutes like Methadone are at unsustainable levels in the current financial climate. The Comprehensive Spending Review will reduce Scottish spending by around 10 per cent in real terms over the next four years and UK welfare reforms may mean drug addicts will have to commit to treatment in return for benefits. Never before has there been a greater financial imperative for the country to re-evaluate its approach to trying to tackle the problem of drug misuse in Scotland. We can simply no longer afford to spend money on services that don’t even make a dent in solving the long term problem.

The Scottish Government drugs strategy 'The Road To Recovery' set out a vision for addicts to fully recover and live drug free lives but the financial picture has changed dramatically since its introduction in 2008. Local authorities, health and social services all face a pressure on budgets and measures to tackle addiction and will be assessed on not just what is effective but what is affordable. But amid the financial gloom there are also opportunities; if shared services are to become the norm, then the opportunities for working closer together may bring benefits and a more joined up approach.

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