LEVEN MSP VISITS DAPL WITH PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTER
Published date : 04 Dec 2019
Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth, has this week (Monday 2nd December) visited substance abuse recovery organisation, Drugs, Alcohol & Psychotherapies Ltd (DAPL), with the Scottish Government Minister for Public Health, Sports and Wellbeing, Joe FitzPatrick MSP.
DAPL, which has bases across Fife, is an organisation offering support, information and advice to individuals and families who are affected by substance abuse and live within the Kingdom. The service is free and confidential and offered by experienced workers.
DAPL works to mitigate many issues that those impacted by substance abuse face such offering counselling with a client-centred approach for those affected and their loved ones.
The meeting highlighted the crucial work of DAPL over the past 25 years and acted as an opportunity to raise awareness of their current work and projects across Fife and within the Ministers remit.
The Scottish Government’s recent overhaul of their alcohol and drug strategy has seen a £20 million a year funding increase, and a newly constructed range of measures to prevent drug related harm. The new taskforce that has been established also aims to focus on how those most are at risk are supported and that the wider issues that pushed them into addiction are treated.
The Scottish Government Minister for Public Health, Sports and Wellbeing, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, added:
“I was pleased to have to opportunity to visit DAPL in Leven to learn more about what the organisation is doing to encourage drug-related harm reduction throughout Fife.
“The Scottish Government is committed to offering harm reduction services for those with substance addictions, and support for their families, through our recent £20million investment in a new drug and alcohol related strategy.”
Commenting after the visit, Jenny Gilruth MSP said:
“I am grateful that I was able to facilitate today’s meeting with the Minister at DAPL – a crucial service within my constituency that supports individuals and families affected by substance abuse.
“DAPL is a lifeline for many people across Fife and goes a long way in helping to mitigate the urgent and serious substance abuse issues we are seeing in Levenmouth.
“The organisation is clearly committed not only to harm reduction, but also to promoting recovery and safe practice – which is directly in line with the Scottish Government’s recent drug and alcohol strategy revamp.”
Steve Walker, Chair of DAPL, commented:
“DAPL was born in the community and remains firmly rooted in the community.
“We have a dedicated team of counsellors, recovery workers, placement and volunteers who continue to place the client firmly at the centre of all they do.
“DAPL team were grateful to have the opportunity to highlight the collective efforts of many over the past 25years with Joe Fitzpatrick MSP Minister for Public Health, Sports and Wellbeing, Jenny Gilruth MSP and colleagues. Our team remains committed in their endeavour to ease the suffering, trauma and distress that can be caused by substance use whilst adapting and developing to meet the ever changing trends that impact on our work.”
ENDS
Photo attached – names within the photograph from L/R:
Christine Patterson – Counsellor
Steve walker DAPL Chair
Scottish Government Minister for Public Health, Sports and Wellbeing, Joe FitzPatrick MSP
Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth
Martin Denholm – DAPL Service Manager
Kathryn Campbell – Counsellor
Stew Talbot – Lead Recovery Worker
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