This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) reports on waiting times for people accessing specialist drug and alcohol treatment services between 1 January and 31 March 2024. In 2011, the Scottish Government set a Standard that 90% of people referred for help with problematic drug or alcohol use will wait no longer than three weeks for specialist treatment that supports their recovery. Amongst 30 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs), eight services out of 204 were excluded due to incomplete data.

During the quarter ending 31 March 2024:

• 11,246 referrals were made to community-based specialist drug and alcohol treatment services: 5,753 (51.2%) were for problematic use of alcohol, 4,084 (36.3%) for problematic use of drugs, and 1,409 (12.5%) for co-dependency.
• 7,622 referrals to community-based services started treatment. Of these, 7,007 (91.9%) involved a wait of three weeks or less. Five NHS Boards did not meet the Standard (Highland, 89.1%; Lothian, 85.6%; Forth Valley, 82.5%; Western Isles, 77.2%; Orkney, 66.6%).
• Nationally, the Standard was met for referrals to community-based services across all substances: drugs (94.2%), co-dependency (91.1%) and alcohol (90.5%).
• 861 referrals were made to prison-based services. Of these, 689 (80.0%) were for people seeking help for problematic use of drugs.
• 345 referrals to prison-based services started treatment. Of these, 324 (93.9%) involved a wait of three weeks or less (co-dependency, 97.4%; alcohol, 97.1%; drugs, 92.2%).

As of 31 March 2024:

• 2,264 community-based service referrals had not started treatment. Of these, 361 (15.9%) involved a wait of more than three weeks.
• 39 prison-based service referrals had not started treatment. Of these, 24 (61.5%) involved a wait of more than three weeks.