蜜芽传媒

A volunteer working with the families of addicts says it should never be forgotten that behind every overdose statistic was a son or daughter.

Julie Biggley, who helps run Kilmarnock-based Someone Else's Addiction (SEA), was speaking after the latest drug death figures in Scotland revealed a 23% increase.

Her nephew Graham Biggley died earlier this year from a drugs overdose. He was the fourth member of her family to die from addiction - she has also lost a cousin and two nieces in recent years.

Ms Biggley said: "These are people, these are people's family - daughters, sons, they are not just statistics. I believe that those best to support are the families, but the families can't cope, they can't cope themselves."