02/09/2025
The Scottish Government have today, announced the amount of drug related deaths in 2024. Behind that number are 1,017 people lost to those who loved them so it feels appropriate to share the poem read at Sundays memorial service.
“In this moment of remembrance,
We gather not to dwell on darkness,
But to illuminate the light that each soul brought into this world.
For every person we’ve lost,
there was a child full of wonder
a friend who offered laughter,
a dreamer with hopes of tomorrow.
They were artists & thinkers,
nurturers & builders,
each with a unique spark
that touched our lives in countless ways.
They’re struggles do not define them
instead, we choose to remember:
the joy they spread, the love they shared,
the lives they touched.
In every smile we recall
In every memory we cherish,
their essence lives on.
As we honour their journey,
we recognise the strength it took,
to face each day with courage.
Let us carry forward the best of who they were,
letting their light guide us toward compassion,
understanding and hope.
For in remembering their wholeness,
we keep their spirit alive and inspire change for
those still struggling.
May we always remember:
Every life is precious, Every story is sacred,
and love endures beyond all challenges!”
Wez Steele Simon Community Scotland Scottish Drugs Forum Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs Gorgie Church VOCAL Edinburgh
