Addiction expert says stigma is one of the biggest killers in Renfrewshire as drug and alcohol deaths rise

John Goldie issued the rallying call to people in a community which saw almost 100 people die as a result of illegal drugs or alcohol in 2023.

Ordinary Buddies can help stem the tide of drug and alcohol addiction, a leading expert has said, as he begs locals not to let the deaths of hundreds of people “be in vain”.

John Goldie issued the rallying call to people in a community which saw almost 100 people die as a result of illegal drugs or alcohol in 2023.

Statistics, released by the National Records of Scotland this week, revealed alcohol was a factor in the deaths of 52 people in Renfrewshire last year.

Drugs contributed to the deaths of 44 people in the same 12-month period.

Now the chairman of Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) has said this heartbreaking loss of life will only be prevented if ordinary people are willing to talk openly about addiction.

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In an interview with the Paisley Daily Express, John said: “If we are really serious about tackling Renfrewshire’s drug and alcohol deaths, one of the big things that I really worry about is stigma, the role stigma has is huge.

“If people are fearful to talk about the fact they have a problem with alcohol or drugs or people are fearful to go for treatment then that pushes them closer to being the next fatality.

“So, as a community, we have to have the bravery, we have to have the ability to talk about these things without people feeling completely stigmatised by it. We need to be quite clear about the fact that someone who has a drug or alcohol problem, they haven’t just gone from being a really nice person to a really bad person, it’s not as simplistic as that. Alcohol and drugs don’t pick bad people to effect but that’s the stigma that comes with it.”

Tackling stigma is important, John argues, because the evidence suggests that those who acknowledge their problems are much more likely to seek help before they hit a crisis point.

They are also, therefore, more likely to succeed in their recovery and go on to lead fulfilling lives as active members of their communities. Currently, in Renfrewshire, 700 people are engaged with recovery services for severe problems with alcohol or drugs, however the number of people in need of support will be higher.

For John and the ADP team, they want people to know the majority of these people will, with the right help and support, recover.

He said: “There is that belief sometimes that if you have an alcohol or drug problem then it can only go one way, but it doesn’t have to and for the majority of people it doesn’t end in tragedy.

“The majority of individuals who come to treatment services get better. It can be very traumatic while the person goes through it but there’s also an opportunity for that person to come through to the end and actually have a very successful life.

“I think, even for the benefit of families, we want to get that message out that this is not a death sentence, if you suddenly find out that your son, daughter or partner is using alcohol or drugs to a level that’s unhealthy, there is hope, they can get better.”

That recovery is also now more accessible following a series of changes made by the ADP and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership. It has expanded its alcohol and drug treatment centre from Back Sneddon Street in Paisley to all the communities across Renfrewshire.

People who seek support will then be directed to the specialist help they need with input from health professionals, social workers and peers.

The ADP continues to strive to make drug and alcohol misuse as “everyone’s responsibility” and is encouraging the entire Renfrewshire community to get behind a host of local events which seek to highlight the support available within the community.

People will have the opportunity to educate themselves on drug and alcohol abuse when the recovery service at Back Sneddon Street opens its doors for an open day and drop in event on October 10.

Buddies are also being urged to take part in the 2024 Recovery Walk which seeks to celebrate the achievements of those who continue to overcome addiction every day.

The event on October 12 also includes a memorial for those who have died, with loved ones urged to drop a rose in the River Clyde in recognition of the lives lost to addiction.

It is those people whom Renfrewshire families must remember in their quest to reduce drug and alcohol-related deaths, John said.

“These people can’t have died for nothing” he said. “These people are not addiction. They had a whole life, they too had dreams and aspirations and families. It’s so important to us to ensure that all those people did not die for no reason, that we do not let their deaths be in vain.

“That is what drives me in everything I do in my work with the ADP and will continue to drive us all in the years ahead.”

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