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The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) makes in delivering services to people who use substances. The Scottish Government has provided funding to the Scottish Drugs Forum for a number of projects since 2021 from both the Alcohol and Drugs Policy Budget and through Blood Borne Viruses policy.

Total funding for SDF from the Alcohol and Drugs Policy budget is available in the National Mission Annual Reports published online at: National mission on drugs - Alcohol and drugs - gov.scot .

Total funding breakdowns for 2025-26 Alcohol and Drugs Policy will be provided in the 2025-26 National Mission Annual report following year-end reporting processes.

For ease of reference, a funding breakdown by year is provided in the following tables, with further detail on projects funded each year being provided in answer to the question S6W-43681 on 26 February 2026:

Alcohol and Drugs Policy Funding (2021-22 – 2024-25)

Over the past five years, the Scottish Government has funded SDF to support delivery of the National Mission to reduce drug deaths and improve lives. The National Drugs Mission Plan (2022–2026) sets out the approach being taken, including investment to strengthen the workforce, improve data and surveillance, embed lived and living experience, prevent the development of problem drug use, and reduce harm for people who use drugs.

SDF has been funded to deliver projects that contribute directly to these outcomes, including harm reduction initiatives, lived and living experience engagement, improvements in workforce capability, and national data and surveillance support.

As a grant-funded organisation, SDF is required to report regularly on progress against agreed objectives. The Scottish Government is satisfied with the progress made, with objectives adjusted over time to respond to emerging priorities.

It is not possible to attribute a specific number of prevented deaths to individual projects. However, the Scottish Government considers that reductions in drug deaths depend on the collective impact of system-wide interventions. Harm reduction work (including naloxone distribution), strengthening of the MAT Standards, improved non-fatal overdose responses, expanded lived experience engagement, and workforce development have all been essential to Scotland’s ability to prevent fatalities.

Scotland’s capacity to prevent drug deaths would be significantly weakened had this work not been undertaken.

The Scottish Government is aware of calls from respiratory stakeholders in England for a Modern Service Framework focused on respiratory care. To clarify, the UK Government has not introduced such a framework. Modern Service Frameworks are being developed for major conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, but respiratory conditions are not currently included.

In Scotland, we continue to monitor emerging approaches from across the UK while taking forward our own long term, evidence informed approach.

The Scottish Governments strategic direction for respiratory care is currently set through the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland. This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and effective long term management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.

The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Health Boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.

The Scottish Government has not specifically assessed the provision of clinical or peer support services for people with FND in Scotland.

The Scottish Government uses a public health approach to substance use. This means decisions are based on evidence, respect for human rights, and compassion.

The additional £250 million invested through the National Mission has strengthened services so they can better support people and communities. This includes rolling out the Medication Assisted Treatment standards, funding residential rehabilitation and naloxone, providing multi-year funding for third sector alcohol and drug organisations, and delivering the Workforce Development Plan.

As the National Mission comes to an end, we remain committed to reducing harm and improving lives. We have been working closely with stakeholders, including people with lived and living experience, to develop a new alcohol and drug Strategic Plan to follow the National Mission. This will be published in the coming weeks.

In 2025, Police Scotland seized drugs with a street value of almost £80 million including a haul of cannabis worth an estimated £12 million.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors can access the help and support they need at a time they need it.

The NHS provides care and support to meet the individual needs of each person, including victims of grooming gangs.

Victims of grooming gangs can access mental health support via the NHS. People experiencing distress or who are in crisis should phone their GP surgery or, where possible, their usual mental health team in the first instance. They will make a referral for specialist or urgent care, if required. If they are unable to access mental health support that way, the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub is available 24/7 on 111, and they will direct people to the right help. Where there is an immediate risk or life - or limb-threatening emergency, people should call 999 or go to their nearest A&E.

Various supports may be offered depending on the individuals needs and circumstances, it is likely that psychological therapies and interventions may be offered as they are suitable for supporting people affected by trauma. The range of evidence based psychological treatments delivered in Scotland is set out in the Scottish Psychological Therapies Matrix and the National Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions sets out best practice in the provision of psychological services.

The Scottish Government and the NHS in Scotland are prioritising support for victims of grooming gangs through a range of actions, some examples of which are set out below.

The Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (FMS Act) commenced on 1 April 2022. The FMS Act provides a statutory duty for health boards to provide forensic medical services for people who have experienced rape or sexual assault. The Act's implementation includes the establishment of a Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) in each health board, delivering person-centred, trauma-informed care.

A Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) provides vital healthcare and forensic examination services for people in the days following rape or sexual assault. Over £18m has been invested since 2017 to ensure a SARCS is available in every health board. SARCS can also make onward referrals to ensure victims are given the most appropriate care including to sexual health services; primary care; secondary mental health services; and, third sector organisations like Rape Crisis Scotland.

Our Bairns’ Hoose Programme is transforming the support available to children who experience, or witness, sexual abuse or exploitation. Bairns’ Hoose will give those children (and their families) access to coordinated health, recovery, justice and protection. Partnerships, including health partners across Scotland, are testing the approach ahead of incremental national rollout from 2027.

As part of the National Guidance for Child Protection we developed with stakeholders the NHS Public Protection Accountability and Assurance Framework published in 2022. It is a vital tool for health boards in Scotland, promoting effective public protection practices and ensuring that vulnerable individuals such as those who are victims of grooming receive the necessary support and safeguarding from health services. nhs-public-protection-accountability-assurance-framework.pdf

We have made substantial progress in raising awareness of psychological trauma and embedding trauma-informed practice across Scottish services and workforces. This is emphasised within our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and supported by over £14 million in investment since 2018 in the National Trauma Transformation Programme.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42822 on 21 January 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government does not hold a breakdown of referrals from the Thistle drug consumption facility by service type, nor does it hold data on the number of referrals made to addiction recovery services from 17 March 2025 to current date. Such information may be available from Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership who are responsible for operation of the Thistle facility.