Digital Lifelines Scotland has committed to improving digital inclusion for people who use drugs, including building confidence, skills and motivation alongside access to devices and connectivity.

The programme has reiterated in response to the recommendations of the Drug Deaths Taskforce a goal of reaching a minimum of 2,000 people who are at risk of drug related harm and 200 staff with the digital inclusion element of the programme funding provided.

​Find out more on the Digital Inclusion page.

Digital Lifelines Scotland fund the development of digital products and services aimed at reducing the risk of harm for people who use drugs. Led by the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI), Digital Lifelines Scotland supports the management, delivery and evaluation of digital technology projects:

• Here4U Scotland

  • A partnership between Aberdeen Alcohol and Drugs Action and University of Stirling piloted the viability of using the Brave App to detect and respond to overdose with people who use drugs alone.

• By My Side Digital Harm Reduction App

  • Simon Community Scotland (SCS), in partnership with tech consultancy AND Digital, have developed a digital app allowing easy access to evidence-based harm reduction support, advice and resources.

• On-Line Engagement (OLE) 

  • The University of St Andrews explores the use of the ‘Near Me' video consulting service to increase addiction services engagement and coverage for treatment of People Who Use Opioids (PWUO) in Scotland.

Find out more on the Digital Products and Services page.

The programme will conduct mapping and exploratory conversations to discover whether there is an appetite in any already developed or developing integrated services to consider what a digitally integrated service might look like.

Delivery partners in both Digital Inclusion and Digital Products and Services will work together on this workstream and shape a proposal and identify funding requirements and sources.

Digital Lifelines Scotland is working with the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI) to develop benefits realisation plans for each strand of the portfolio with Delivery Partners.

Going forward, benefits realisation plans and impact measures will be embedded in each of the strands of the programme based on the evidence assimilated by the programme to date. In addition, an Evaluation Partner will be commissioned for the next phase evaluation, including identification of potential impacts and benefits of the programme, a common impact framework with associated measures, and recommendations for sustainability These should enable both formative and summative evaluation of the programme for March 2025.

The programme team needs to identify the required resources to deliver:

• An updated stakeholder map, communications and engagement plan.
• Active management of the website.
• Development of compelling and succinct materials including user stories, which demonstrate the impact of the programme to date and the potential for further digital inclusion and service development and integration.
•  An implementation plan, including timeline and impact measurement.

The programme will:

• Integrate workforce awareness, skills and confidence into each workstream of the programme
• Enhance programme communications with targeted awareness for staff and workforce organisations
• Work with existing workforce streams connected to Drug Mission to integrate digital into workforce development plans
• Work with existing digital workforce skills programmes to integrate digital lifelines awareness raising – e.g. The Alliance, SCVO, Digital Health and Care, NES