Rapid action was taken to revive overdose victims 17 times in four months at Glasgow 's Winter Night Shelter last year.
Staff trained in the use of Naloxone, a drug which can revive people experiencing potentially fatal overdoses, sprang into action to avert disaster.
The number of Naloxone interventions in four months, at the Winter Night Shelter alone, demonstrates the high prevalence of drug addiction among Glasgow's homeless community.
Naloxone is used across homelessness services in the city, as Glasgow, like the rest of Scotland, is battling a drug deaths crisis. Fatal and non-fatal overdoses are on the increase.
In 2018, Scotland suffered a record number of drugs deaths. Tragically, 1187 people died across the country and 280 (24%) of deaths were in Glasgow. A number of the people who died were being helped by the city's homeless services, as well as our addiction services. We are currently working on a comprehensive drugs deaths action plan to implement a range of action to respond to this crisis.
READ MORE: GCU researchers to examine Glasgow's heroin treatment service
Sadly, last year, 45 people recorded as homeless in Glasgow died. Forty-three of the people who died (95%) were in temporary accommodation at the time of their deaths. Drug and alcohol addiction along with mental health problems are prevalent among the city's most vulnerable homeless people. They threaten their long term health and ultimately, their lives.
Susanne Millar, interim chief officer of Glasgow's Health & Social Care Partnership said: "Sadly, of the 45 people who died, the majority of those deaths were related to complex health issues often associated with previous or current addiction issues, including mental health, with a smaller number recorded as drugs deaths.
"Many of our service users who died had previous or existing addiction issues, some also with significant mental health needs. It is the complexity of those needs which contributed to their deaths, rather than issues relating to their housing status.
"The number of lives potentially saved at the Winter Night Shelter demonstrates the scale of the problem. Unfortunately, this heart-breaking reality is replicated in our other homelessness services too. It is emotionally difficult for staff and trained volunteers at the Night Shelter who work closely with service users and whom I'd personally like to thank for their dedication and professionalism in these difficult circumstances."
At the last official count, there were 29 people sleeping rough in the city. The Winter Night Shelter, run by Glasgow City Mission, can accommodate up to 40 people and in winter 2018, although more people used it, it was never full and multi-agency work at the shelter saw the vast majority of guests offered alternative accommodation quickly.
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