Man who tragically lost wife and daughter to addiction leads remembrance ceremony in Glasgow

A ceremony has been held in Glasgow to remember those who have lost their lives to drugs and alcohol addiction.

More than a hundred people gathered to pay their respects at Nelson’s Column at Glasgow Green on Sunday, with a rose handed out to mark the loss of each life.

Steven Docherty spent three decades battling addiction to drugs and alcohol and knows the pain and suffering caused by addiction.

Steven Docherty led the ceremony after losing his wife and daughter through addiction STV News

He told STV News: “I’m just here to remember my wife and daughter who died of addiction.

“My wife Diane passed away and then three years ago my wee daughter Lauren passed away through addiction.

“She left me a wee granddaughter who I look after, who I love to bits. She’s my wee pride and joy.”

Steven has now been sober for 11 years after going into rehab.

He added: “I saw people going to their meetings for alcoholics and addicts and then I started getting clean and sober. I’ve never ever touched a drink or drugs since.”

The ceremony comes just days after the latest figures showed drugs deaths have gone up 11 per cent in a year in Scotland.

Colin McGowan from the charity Blameless said: “Most of the people here have lost a loved one.

“Last year 1,133 died with addiction. It’s a disease which Scotland suffers from more than anywhere else in the world.

“Governments have never got to understand why but more work has to be done or there are going to be many more roses thrown in the Clyde.”