Buildings across Dumfries and Galloway will be lit up in purple to mark International Overdose Awareness Day.

The tribute – on 31st August – is being made to remember those who have died due to overdose and acknowledge the grief of the families and friends left behind.

The locations include: We are With You – Buccleuch Street, Dumfries; St Ringans Parish Church – Castle Douglas; Old Parish Church – Annan and The Baptist Church – Stranraer. 

Information packs on overdose awareness, harm reduction and contact details for local support services will be available at these locations.

Families and members of the community are being invited to tie a purple ribbon at these locations to remember those who have lost their lives to drug related death. Ribbons will be available at each location

Grahame Clarke, Independent Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, said: “We have previously highlighted the continued rise in suspected drug related deaths in Dumfries and Galloway, and so, we are using our activity in support of International Overdose Awareness Day to again remind all of our communities of the devastating impact that drug related deaths have.

“We want to acknowledge the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from drug overdose.

“We would like to remind drug users and their families of the key things they can do to reduce the risk of overdose.”

Steps include:

· Don’t take drugs alone – most suspected fatal overdoses have involved someone taking drugs alone. Taking drugs alone increases the chance of fatally overdosing, because there is no one to call for help in an emergency.

· Don’t take a combination of drugs, drugs that haven’t been prescribed and or drugs that may have been bought over the internet. This includes alcohol and prescribed medication. Mixing drugs greatly increases the risk of overdose, particularly if you don’t know exactly what they are or what effect they will have.

· Don’t try new substances, increase or reduce the quantity of drugs or alcohol being regularly taken without support from your GP or Drug and Alcohol treatment Service. If trying any new substances, try a very small amount at first, so you know how it might affect you.

· Get a Naloxone kit. Naloxone is a medication that temporarily reverses the effects of a heroin or other opioid overdose and allows time for someone to seek emergency help. Friends and family can also get a Naloxone kit

· Dial 999 immediately if you believe that someone is having an overdose or if you feel unwell after taking any drugs. When someone has overdosed, they can look and sound like they are simply asleep; snoring can be an indication the person is having breathing difficulties. Always check when you hear snoring that the person is actually asleep.

The message from Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drug Partnership is being echoed and supported by Dumfries and Galloway Local Resilience Partnership in the form of its partners Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Police Scotland, Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership.

Further information can be found at www.stopdgdrugdeaths.co.uk

A collaboration between a ward at Midpark Hospital in Dumfries and a local camera club has resulted in new stimulating art for patients. 

The Glencairn Ward is one of six wards at Midpark Hospital, providing 15 beds for older adults who are experiencing difficulties with their current mental health which cannot be supported at home and so require hospital admission.  

Senior Charge Nurse Claire Gabriel said: “Staff on the ward were keen to decorate its walls with art which would encourage conversation, and allow discussions about life experiences and memories, as well as hobbies and locations visited in the region. 

“We all know how stimulating artwork can be for many of our patients, and it made sense to see if we could obtain attractive and engaging pictures that could take up a permanent place on the walls of the ward.” 

It was a chance discussion between Claire Gabriel and Dumfries Camera Club Competition Secretary Ian Findlay, a partner at Findlay Design, that led to a project being undertaken by the wider camera club members. 

Dumfries Camera club is a long-standing amateur photographic club that would normally meet at Gracefield Arts Centre between August and May.  

Due to restrictions around lockdowns, they have continued to hold virtual meetings – but have arranged competitions and welcomed guest speakers on a Wednesday night throughout the pandemic. 

The Camera Club members were happy to take on the challenge of creating new images to help decorate Glencairn Ward, providing an abundance of entries for the ward staff to choose from. 

Ultimately, eight pictures were chosen, and Ian from Findlay Design supported staff by getting large canvases printed for the staff to hang within the ward.  

Mr Findlay said: “The club were really happy to support this bid to create some original artwork for Glencairn Ward at Midpark Hospital, and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge which was put to them by the ward staff. 

“We had a huge number of entries, of fantastic quality, and the club is delighted that the some of that resulting work has now been selected and is providing talking points for patients and staff.” 

Claire has expressed huge gratitude to Dumfries Camera Club for what they undertook, and for the role played by Mr Findlay. 

She said: “The pictures are stunning and have proven to be a huge success for both patients and staff.  

“Their comments when viewing some of the shots of life and nature include, ‘You can actually see what is happening at that time’,  ‘I just love looking at these pictures’, ‘Amazing’, ‘They stimulate conversation’ and ‘When I go back, I see something different every time’. 

Glencairn Ward at Midpark Hospital sees care provided by a wide range of multi-disciplinary team members. Staff also work in partnership with family and friends, to provide a high standard of patient-centred care. 

COVID-19 has presented unique healthcare challenges – but represents a very real challenge to vulnerable groups such as those who have drug and alcohol problems.  

It is estimated that over half of the 60,000 or so people with drug problems in Scotland are over the age of 35 and have multiple co-morbidities, including COPD, making them a vulnerable high-risk group in relation to COVID-19. At the same time, the challenges of lockdown, constraints around face-to-face service delivery as well as social isolation can greatly increase the risk of disengagement from service, relapse, overdose or drug-related death. 

Speaking ahead of International Drug Overdose Awareness Day this Sunday August 31, chair of Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) Grahame Clarke said: “People with drug and alcohol problems are among the most vulnerable members of our communities, and among those vulnerable to the effects not just of the coronavirus itself but also the resulting response, including lockdown and the contraction of services.

“As such, it is vitally important that front line staff in contact with people who have drug or alcohol issues or who are providing a service to them understand the impact the pandemic might have on the individual and know where help can be obtained – either from within their own organisation or from other services.  

“With this in mind Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) has been running an awareness campaign aimed at the staff and the volunteers who work within Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership. The campaign has highlighted the challenges faced by those with drug and alcohol problems and provided information on how these individuals can be supported on their recovery journey, reducing the risk of harm to them.”

The campaign has featured four key themes which the Drug and Alcohol Partnership feel should also be understood by anyone who knows someone with a drug or alcohol issue during the COVID period.

Mr Clarke said: “COVID has a huge challenge on all of us, but it poses a particular challenge to vulnerable people – including those with drug and alcohol problems.

“Our work recently has been about engaging with those people in health and social care whose work brings them into contact with these vulnerable people and making them aware of what a challenge it is to them, and what they can do to help them overcome these challenges.

“There is no reason why people with drug and alcohol problems cannot continue to access their GP practice, or consult with a specialist drug or alcohol service, as many will have issues and ailments which need to be tended to, and these can continue to be addressed. They shouldn’t be put off or think COVID is more important.

“It’s about encouraging people with alcohol and drug problems not to change their behaviours – don’t try new things, don’t change the amount that you take, don’t take it in new way, don’t try new drugs and don’t mix drugs. These are some of the dangers which exist.

“Isolation as a result of COVID can have a particular impact on people with alcohol and drug difficulties, with less face-to-face contact and less social support. This can have an impact on mental health and how they deal with isolation, and all of that can build and have quite a profound effect on them, and their use of drugs and alcohol.

“In these situations it’s about having discussions, it’s about making them aware of the services which can help them and encouraging them to contact those services and seek help early get as much help as they possibly can.”

A full list of contact details for services within the region which can provide support are available on the Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drug Partnership website https://dghscp.co.uk/alcohol-drugs-partnership-adp/

Grahame said: “My plea is if you have any concern about anyone you know then please do pick up the phone to us or the services, or encourage them to get in touch, because it’s vitally important that we support this vulnerable group at this very challenging time.”