Digital Lifelines Scotland

Digital Lifelines Scotland is an initiative led by Scottish Government's Digital Health & Care Directorate with Connecting Scotland.

Digital Lifelines Scotland is on a mission to help people at risk of drug related death to connect digitally with those that care about them and services that support them. We will build on this digital connection to design new and better ways for people to access health, care and support services so that they get the help they need when they need it.

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.

The Scottish Government’s policy is set out in the national strategy “Rights, Respect, and Recovery” and has been revitalised with a National Mission to improve and save lives. The National Mission sets out the Scottish Government’s priorities for implementing a public health approach to reducing drug-related harm and death.

Digital Lifelines Scotland seeks to help overcome this digital exclusion and to design new digital solutions that better meet people’s needs and improve the health outcomes for people who use drugs, reducing the risk of harm and death. 

The programme aims to have a range of digital solutions and re-designed services that meet the needs of people with multiple and complex needs at increased risk of drug related harm are available and are being adopted.  Specifically

  1. People have greater access to digital solutions that keep them safe and that enable them to become and remain connected to family, friends and relevant services that support them.
  2. The services that support these citizens have the digital means to develop and strengthen the support they provide, and staff that are skilful in using and developing digital solutions to enable those they support.
  3. The sector is digitally connected and collaborating, developing joined-up services and exploring innovative solutions together.

Find out more at Digital Lifelines Scotland, our dedicated website where video clips, case examples and information about the work can be found.

Meet the team

Programme Area