Closure of drug rehab centre 'will cost lives' say recovering addicts

Published on Thursday 10 July 2008 10:29

THE closure of a unique drug rehabilitation centre in Leith could cost lives, according to service users at the clinic.

The Links Project, on Links Place, is believed to be the only centre of its kind to offer residential drug rehabilitation and detox services.

However, the centre's service provider, Glasgow-based social care organisation Turning Point, has pulled out of Edinburgh following a less-than-expected allocation from the city council's health and social care budget.

In 2007, a new contract price of 487,030 was agreed by Turning Point Scotland – 23,000 less than the previous year.

Service users were told the total predicted shortfall this year was estimated to be 143,000.

Recovering addict Michael Hughes, 38, of Leith, said the centre saved his life after his drug abuse saw his weight drop to under eight stone.

He said: "I only started using at age 34 when I separated from my partner and my life just went off the rails.

"The Links Project got me stabilised and back on track and now I'm fit and healthy and ready to go out and see my kids again.

"I'll never go back to drugs, but God forbid if I ever do and the Links Project isn't here to help me you'll be seeing my name in the family obituaries column."

The centre is predicted to close no later than November 2008.

Netta Maciver, chief executive of Turning Point Scotland, said: "The service is running at a considerable deficit which TPS has met from its own financial reserves.

"TPS has explored alternative funding streams for this service for the past four years to no avail."

There are presently 465 users waiting for a six-week space in one of the project's 12 beds at the centre. Edinburgh has an estimated 3500 drug users.

Leith Labour councillor Gordon Munro said the centre was one of the first victims of the council's "hidden" cuts in community services.

He said: "I've seen no evidence that the need for this centre has disappeared, and I fear it won't be the last third-sector organisation to go this way."

However, the city council and NHS Lothian say they remain committed to providing services that address the needs of people with drug problems, and interim arrangements will be in place for when the Links Project closes.

Peter Gabbitas, director of health and social care at the council, said: "This will include expansion of our community detoxification programme, making places available within the inpatient Ritson Clinic for planned detoxification and spot-purchasing places at other residential drug services.

"In the longer term, we are looking to ensure that a high quality residential drug detoxification service is in place for people with drug problems that is able to evidence best practice in line with the new national drug strategy."