Scotland has an unacceptably high number of drug related deaths. Addressing this and exploring ways of preventing fatal overdose amongst those at the highest risk is a national priority. Lack of opportunity to connect to families, friends and support services, is a particular issue amongst people who use drugs and have multiple and complex needs. The Covid-19 pandemic showed the potential of using digital means to maintain support, contact and connection.
Digital Lifelines Scotland seeks to improve digital inclusion and to design digital solutions that better meet people's needs, to improve the health outcomes for people who use drugs, reducing the risk of harm and death. Specifically, we aim to ensure that:
The challenge of Covid-19 made us all think of different ways of reaching those at risk and in need of support. We can build on that new thinking, with the same urgency, to keep many more from harm.
Digital Lifelines Scotland is led by Digital Health and Care at the Scottish Government in conjunction with core partners. The programme is joint funded by Digital Health and Care, Drugs Policy Division, and the Drug Deaths Taskforce. The programme partners bring expertise and networks that support creative solutions, understanding of effective practice and opportunities to accelerate development and roll out of new approaches. Delivery partners include:
SCVO is a delivery partner for Connecting Scotland programme and administers the Digital Lifelines grant programme.
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) is a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde and the Glasgow School of Art. It is part of the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Centre Programme and part-funded by Scottish Government. DHI supports digital innovation between academia, the public and third sectors, and businesses in the area of health and care.
DHI is supporting the ‘Define’ stage of the programme by using a participatory design approach to:
DHI is also supporting specific project related activities via ODART.
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TEC coordinates the programme team and has overall responsibility for the programme's delivery, and provides the link to cross government action to reduce drug deaths.
Connecting Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative set up in response to Covid-19. Its aim is to help get every citizen in Scotland online. Support includes
DRNS undertakes the research to identify people's digital inclusion needs and will undertake the evaluation of the overall programme.
Simon Community Scotland work alongside people experiencing homelessness who are among the most digitally excluded groups as well as facing some of the greatest challenges in their lives as a result of unresolved trauma, pain, and disconnection.
Simon Community Scotland have been leading on an approach which combines digital inclusion with harm reduction to reduce drug related deaths and harms for people experiencing homelessness.
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