Public Health Scotland says that despite some progress, access to residential placements for people who are struggling with substance use remains difficult.

In its evaluation of the initial phase of the five-year Scottish government Residential Rehabilitation programme, Public Health Scotland (PHS) found over three quarters of respondents did not find placements easily accessible.

The programme to help improve access to residential rehab for people across Scotland who struggle with addiction was launched in 2021 as part of the government’s national mission on alcohol and drugs.

Three years in, PHS reveals that there has been an estimated increase in residential rehab bed capacity by 8%, particularly for publicly-funded placements.

The research findings report 812 rehab placements were approved for public funding in Scotland in the last financial year.

However, PHS says that barriers to accessing support have persisted.

In its findings, of a 2023 survey of those able to refer individuals for rehab in Scotland reveal that only 24% of respondents found residential rehab placements ‘easily accessible’.

This is despite a reported £14m funding boost from the Scottish government to increase residential rehabilitation places last year.

Yet, PHS says evidence so far suggests the government is on track to hit its target for publicly-funded placements by 2026.

Director of Population Health and Wellbeing at PHS, Ruth Glassborow, said:  

“This report is the first output of our independent evaluation of the Scottish government Residential Rehabilitation Programme. We hope its baseline findings can support important discussions on residential rehabilitation in Scotland. 

“Our report found evidence suggesting some progress towards increasing access to individuals, however, there are still significant barriers that people face.

“There is also a risk of uneven progress across different parts of the country which may exacerbate existing health inequalities.”

The PHS evaluation also raises concerns about a lack of provision for specific groups of individuals, from those with caring responsibilities, those with mental health needs to people unable or not wishing to go to a rehab centre further away from where they live.

In 2023, a mother and child recovery house opened to pilot support for Scots seeking help with drug or alcohol recovery but wishing to remain with their children.

Meanwhile, PHS highlights a lack of sufficient funding to purchase rehab placements as an ongoing barrier facing Scotland’s Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in its new report.

The evaluation states that the funded of £5m per year allocated under this programme may not be enough for everyone who wants or for whom it is deemed clinically appropriate to access rehab.

This report comes as part of a wider evaluation by PHS of the government’s progress on its National Mission to reduce drug and alcohol related deaths.

Despite being the lowest number of drug-related deaths across Scotland in five years, the Scottish Drugs Forum say the 1,051 people who died from drug-related causes in 2022 reflects an inadequate response to public health emergency.

Another 2023 survey included in the PHS evaluation found that only 19% of people with experience using drugs in Scotland felt reasonably well-informed about residential rehab. 

Other barriers identified in the report include long waiting times for detoxification, concerns about aftercare and post-rehab support for people returning to their previous environments.

Ms Glassborow says PHS will continue its process of evaluation on the programme and publish a final report after the programme finishes in March 2026.

Read more: RADAR system to spot drug death risks; Analysis: Drugs and alcohol in the Scottish Health Survey; Charity calls for zero drug deaths; Health researchers recognise gambling addiction; Decriminalisation call to support drug deaths mission; Analysis: Why people are left behind

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