THE scale of Renfrewshire’s chronic drink and drugs problem has been laid bare in a shocking new report.

A 20-month investigation by the Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drugs Commission (RADC) lifts the lid on the devastating impact addiction has on the lives of local residents.

It confirmed that, in 2018, there were 50 alcohol deaths in Renfrewshire – the seventh highest number in any council area across Scotland – and more than 1,000 people were seeking treatment for a drink problem at any one time.

The findings also show that 53 youngsters under the age of 18 were treated for acute alcohol poisoning last year.

Meanwhile, figures released by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) yesterday show there were 45 drug-related deaths in Renfrewshire last year.

Across Scotland, only Glasgow, Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire, Fife, Dundee and South Lanarkshire had higher numbers.

The RADC report also found an estimated 2,700 local people were using drugs on a regular basis, with 1,269 of them injecting.

It has recommended that £2.6million needs to be spent on tackling Renfrewshire’s spiralling addiction problems, which they believe are linked to the Covid pandemic.

It found that people had turned to drink and drugs during lockdown because of feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Renfrewshire Council has pledged £2million worth of funding in a bid to meet the recommendations.

Elected officials will also look at making further cash available to tackle the spiralling drink and drugs issue.

The Commission began its investigation in March 2019 and interviewed more than 300 people and organisations, ranging from addicts to police officers.

Alan McNiven, chief executive of Engage Renfrewshire, which represents voluntary bodies, said the Commission focused on those with first-hand knowledge of the problems.

“It was vitally important that the voices of people with lived experience and those who work in alcohol and drug services influenced the Commission’s enquiry and the final recommendations,” he added.

The Commission also discovered that many Renfrewshire residents who already had serious mental health problems were turning to drink and drugs during the pandemic because they couldn’t get any help.

Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, chair of the Commission, said: “The pandemic has had a big impact on people struggling with alcohol and drug use and we know isolation has made it worse for many people and their families.

“What has been made very clear is the amount of hidden suffering that so many people suffer, unable to reach out and access support and sometimes not feeling part of a community that can support them.”