We cannot ignore the fact that the majority of people who die from an alcohol-specific death also live in the most deprived areas of Scotland, despite high levels of alcohol consumption amongst those in more affluent areas. There is no doubt that larger structural forces are at play which have created extreme health inequalities and driven these so called ‘deaths of despair’. This is not an isolated issue: people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are still 12 times more likely to die of a drug related death.

We acknowledge the distinct social, cultural, and legal positions held by alcohol and other drugs, but we cannot ignore the shared underlying drivers of harmful use, or the overlapping needs of those who are most affected.

We have, rightly, given considerable attention to reducing drug related harm. We understand and accept that people do and will continue to use drugs, and we work to minimize their risk of harm through needle exchange, outreach services, and BBV testing. We also continue to push and challenge the legal framework to support greater harm reduction for drug use, through safer consumption facilities, drug checking and testing services and safer inhalation practices. Through this support, we build supportive relationships that help people towards positive change if and when they are ready.

But we can do more at a policy level to consider how we apply this same pragmatic approach to those struggling with their alcohol use – one that accepts people’s choices and the reality of their lives, while working to reduce their risk of harm and establish positive connections with the support that’s there for them. Alcohol Brief Interventions are a good example of how we can approach harm

reduction, and we are glad to see the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to their roll out, however, we still believe that this could go further.

Turning Point Scotland, for example, has worked to roll out alcohol harm reduction packs across our alcohol and other drug services. These packs include an information leaflet and practical items such as vitamins and dried fruit, which can supplement the nutrients that a person may be lacking due to alcohol use. These packs, and the conversations that come with them, offer a starting point for support, helping us to build trust and raise awareness of the steps people can take to reduce harm.

We’ve seen the value of alcohol harm reduction first-hand. That’s why we are calling for greater investment in alcohol-specific harm reduction, such as Managed Alcohol Programmes, delivered alongside whole-population measures like marketing restrictions and Minimum Unit Pricing. We have already made important strides in embedding harm reduction approaches within our response to drug use and it’s time we applied the same level of commitment, innovation, and investment to alcohol.