Counselling service to be launched for families bereaved by drug-related death

Families across Scotland left bereaved by a drug-related death will be able to access counselling support within days rather than months as part of a new service set to launch next week.

A bereavement counselling programme coordinated by Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs is to start taking referrals from next Monday after receiving funding from Scottish Government.

Specialist drug-related death bereavement counselling will be offered to family members with the intention being to reduce waiting times from six months down to seven days.

There were 526 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2013, up 66 per cent in the space of a decade. Over a third of those who died were a parent or parental figure.

“While all deaths are tragic to those impacted, drug-related deaths bring their own very different stressors,” SFAAD chief executive Christine Duncan told Holyrood.

“Often after someone dies from an overdose the scene of the death can be treated as a crime scene.

“We are aware of families where they were not aware their family member misused substances until their death and there is no long lead in to the death where people can prepare for the loss.

“Our bereavement counselling programme, which will offer counselling and advocacy to those impacted by a drug-related death, is responding to a long identified need.”

Referrals are to come from a variety of sources including Police Scotland, GPs, and addiction services.

Once the referral is made, an assessment will be carried out before families are linked into local counsellors across Scotland offering between six and eight sessions.

“We aim to work with as many bereaved families as our funding will permit but with over 500 drug-related deaths every year, we know we will have to secure extra funding to address all those who potentially may want to access our services,” added Duncan.