THE Scottish Government's drugs minister made a visit to Greenock rehab unit Jericho House to hear how it has saved the lives of residents.
Angela Constance MSP was here to mark overdose awareness day and National Recovery Month.
She listened to harrowing experiences of Sean McClelland and John McEwan and their battle with addiction, after being welcomed by Michael Trail, who runs the unit.
Ms Constance said: "It is a privilege to spend time with people who have shared their experience and the importance of visibility of people in recovery.
"For politicians or those who provide a service, it is important to we all remember that change is possible and that drug deaths are preventable.
"Hearing people in recovery is living proof that recovery is possible."
Pressed by the Tele about Inverclyde's high drug deaths rates, she acknowledged there had always been a significant drugs problem in Inverclyde and that although the death rate had come down last year, there was need for 'real change'.
Ms Constance added: "There needs to be sustained change - not only over a year."
She pinpointed Jericho and Moving On Inverclyde as two local organisations who had benefited from funding and highlighted a comprehensive new 'national mission' to help more people out of addiction.
Ms Constance said: "The national mission is an all-Scotland approach including drug policy, police intervention, mental health and good primary care.
"It's based on joined up working to tackle poverty and inequality and support early years childcare."
Mr Trail said he invited the minister to visit the men's unit in Bank Street to showcase the valuable work they do and show how important funding is for its survival.
He said: "We are already grateful to Ms Constance for the £100,000 a year funding we received, we couldn't have survived without that.
"However in the last 20 months we only had funding for nine beds and we have helped approximately 80 people unfunded.
"There is still lots of room for improvement but more improvement has been made since 2020 than in the previous last 18 years.
"This visit has been opportunity for the guys to share their experiences and explain why there is such a need for places like this.
"Drugs deaths have decreased in Inverclyde but every drugs death is a tragedy."
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