Funding to expand residential rehabilitation access in Scotland

More than £11m has been awarded to two drugs projects in Scotland to enable them to expand their residential rehabilitation service and increase the number of beds available.

River Garden Auchincruive in South Ayrshire will use the funding to increase its capacity from seven to 56 residents over the next five years and build a unit to meet the specific needs of women.

NHS Lothian will also receive around £5m to support around 600 additional placements over five years at Lothian and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP) and increase capacity at the Ritson detoxification clinic from eight to 12 beds.

The funding is part of an additional £100m announced nationally to improve access to residential rehabilitation.

Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said: ‘While there is much to be done to address our drug deaths crisis we are making changes to support people to access the treatment and recovery that is right for them.

‘Our commitment to increase the number of publically funded places by 300% and the number of beds by 50% will provide options for those who can safely access and who want to access residential rehab.

‘The funding announced for these latest projects comes from the additional £100 million we are investing in residential rehabilitation over the next five and we are determined every penny of that will make a difference.’

River Garden Chair William Smith added: ‘All at River Garden are enormously grateful for the funding support from the Residential Rehabilitation Rapid Capacity Programme. This funding will enable the significant expansion of our residential capacity to create additional space for residents, and new staffing resource and facilities that specifically meet the needs of women.

‘Existing residents come from across Scotland and we very much look forward to having the opportunity to help many more people sustainably recover from addiction in the beautiful setting and community of River Garden Auchincruive.’

In related news, Climate Change Minister Julie James has launched the Welsh government’s new ‘Ending Homelessness Action Plan’ in the Senedd.

Photo by christopher lemercier