SCOTS battling alcoholism are facing “life or death” after supplies of a vital drug ran dry, addiction experts warn.
Patients told of their desperation after medics were told to ration Antabuse tablets — which triggers violent sickness if mixed with booze.
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And those desperately trying to get sober claim to have been told they will not get it until at least next summer as health boards grapple with backlogs.
The Chief Medical Officer Directorate says new patients should not be prescribed the drug amid the national shortage.
Existing users have also been asked to reduce doses from daily to three times a week.
The alert comes after 1,276 Scots died from alcohol abuse last year, the highest in 14 years.
One worried patient said they were told it could be “late into next year” before they could be prescribed the medication.
They said: “By that point, I don’t know where I will be with my recovery.
“I really need it now — not in a year’s time.”
Annemarie Ward, chief executive of the Faces and Voices of Recovery charity, warned: “The shortage of Antabuse is not merely an inconvenience.
“It is a matter of life and death.”
NHS consultant Dr Iain Smith said: “This shortage is causing worry and putting people in a vulnerable position and is potentially jeopardising recovery.”
The Scottish Government said stocks should be returning to normal following the crisis.
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