Scotland has launched a major new fund to drive down drug and alcohol deaths. First Minister John Swinney unveiled the £36.9 million Alcohol and Drugs Fund alongside a pledge for a fresh collective approach. He called it essential in addressing one of Scotland’s most enduring public health crises.

The fund runs over three years. It supports frontline services and community organisations working with people affected by alcohol and drug use. The Corra Foundation manages applications independently through the Funding Scotland portal.

A Summit Focused on Reducing Drug and Alcohol Deaths

The announcement came as Swinney addressed a national summit in Edinburgh, organised by Public Health Scotland. Health board chief executives, local authority leaders, and justice representatives attended. Third sector partners and people with lived experience of drug and alcohol use also took part. Family members and those in recovery added their voices too.

Swinney was direct about the scale of the problem. He said the system needed to change fundamentally. “If someone needs help, our system should be easy and quick to navigate,” he said. “It should wrap around the person rather than making people fit into the system.” He described this as a clear “no wrong door” ambition.

What the Fund Will Support

This three year fund reaches organisations of all sizes. Smaller grassroots groups and larger partnerships are both eligible. Furthermore, it places emphasis on improving support for children, young people, and families affected by alcohol and drug harm.

Funding covers four areas: prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Third sector organisations and public bodies working with people in recovery, or with their families, can apply. Additionally, the fund addresses long standing concerns from the voluntary sector about short term funding. Multi year investment gives organisations the stability to plan services, retain staff, and build trust.

Part of a Wider Ten Year Plan

The new fund sits within Scotland’s Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 to 2035. This is a joint initiative between the Scottish Government and COSLA. Moreover, the plan is backed by more than £160 million in 2026 to 2027 alone. It sets out a decade long approach to reducing drug and alcohol deaths across Scotland.

In addition, it builds on the five year National Mission on Drugs. Treatment standards now expand beyond drugs to cover alcohol as well. There is also stronger emphasis on prevention before dependency develops.

Scotland’s record on drug and alcohol deaths remains a serious concern. Figures from the National Records of Scotland show 1,172 drug related deaths in 2023. That places Scotland among the highest drug death rates in Europe. As a result, the shift toward prevention and sustained investment carries significant weight.

Progress Already Made on Alcohol and Drug Harm Reduction

Swinney pointed to steps already taken. The government has expanded residential rehabilitation capacity. Funded placements now sit close to the 1,000 target. New treatment standards are also in place. Furthermore, surveillance of the most dangerous drugs entering circulation has improved.

Scotland opened The Thistle, the UK’s first safer drug consumption facility. This marks a real shift in how the country approaches alcohol and drug harm reduction in practice.

A Collective Responsibility

Carolyn Sawers, Chief Executive of the Corra Foundation, welcomed the role of delivering the fund. “High quality support for people affected by drugs and alcohol is vital,” she said. She added that Corra would work closely with people with lived and living experience throughout.

The fund’s design draws directly on that lived experience. This signals a move away from top down policymaking. Instead, it reflects approaches shaped by the people most directly affected.

Ultimately, reducing drug and alcohol deaths across Scotland falls on no single agency. It requires sustained investment and real coordination across health, justice, housing, and communities. This fund is a meaningful step in that direction.

Source: dbrecoveryresources