A TOTAL of 36 people lost their lives to alcohol in Dumfries and Galloway last year.
And Finlay Carson MSP has called for more treatment programmes for those affected.
He also highlighted the statistic during a members’ debate at Holyrood last week, saying: “Recent statistics revealed that the number of people who died an alcohol-specific death last year amounted to 36 people in Dumfries and Galloway.
“Behind every death, there are families, friends and communities who are experiencing devastating loss.”
The Galloway and West Dumfries MSP said that, according to NHS Dumfries and Galloway figures, 30 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women exceed daily and, or weekly, recommended drinking limits based on data from 2017 to 2021.
He added: “A total of 442 people were admitted to hospital in the region due to alcohol-related illnesses”
Highlighting the lack of treatment programmes, called it “truly regrettable and also shameful.”
Meanwhile, the MSP praised local frontline staff in helping those seeking support and said: “I recognise the fantastic staff and volunteers who work in drug and alcohol addiction support in Dumfries and Galloway, but the one big barrier is stigma, which limits the number of people who come forward.
“Huge efforts have been made to remove the stigma that is attached to drug addiction, and we need to take the same approach to alcohol.
“The See Beyond” campaign aims to reduce that stigma.”
