HEROIN was responsible for the deaths of nine Borderers during 2016.

But drug-related fatalities in the region are now the lowest in mainland Scotland with a second year-on-year reduction.

A new report has highlighted that there was a 23 per cent surge in drug fatalities across the whole of Scotland in 2016.

But the Borders recorded a slight decrease in deaths with ten people losing their lives through either intentional or unintentional overdoses.

The figure for the NHS Borders region is down from 13 deaths the previous year and11 fatalities in 2014.

All bar one of the 10 deaths during 2016 in the Scottish Borders involved either heroin or similar opioids.

And the report by the National Records of Scotland, which has highlighted a record 867 drug deaths across the whole country, has led pressure groups to call for a fresh approach.

A spokesman for the Scottish Drugs Forum told us: "Fatal drug overdoses are personal tragedies for the individuals concerned and for their families and friends.

"These are clearly of a scale which is a national tragedy that requires a fundamental rethink of our approach.

"Other countries have achieved a reduction in overdose deaths by ensuring that people are appropriately retained in high-quality treatment and we must aspire to do the same.

"In terms of reducing drug-related deaths, we need to ensure that people are in treatment.

"For many people dependent on opiates that will mean treatment involving Opiate Replacement Therapy. That treatment will be most effective when it is prescribed at high enough doses to reduce the urge to use other drugs. That treatment will be most effective when it is supplemented by psycho-social therapies and good supports around basic physical and mental health.

"As a basis for this people need the basics – a home and something to do."

The figures show that of the ten deaths in the Scottish Borders during 2016, eight were from accidental poisoning, one was intentional and the other was undetermined.

Despite the fatality figure in the region slightly decreasing in recent years it is still significantly higher than from a decade ago when there were only two recorded drug-related deaths throughout 2006 in the Borders.

The spokesman for the Scottish Drugs Forum added: "There will have to be concerted effort to change this if we are to save lives and create more opportunities for recovery.

"This will also include exploring approaches, well-evidenced internationally but new for Scotland, such as drug consumption rooms and heroin-assisted treatment.

"The majority of deaths involve opiate drugs and so maximising the supply and availability of naloxone at the scene of an overdose should be a key priority."

It is estimated that there are currently more than 700 'problem drug users' residing in the Scottish Borders.