Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
First Minister says sorry to families of victims
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised to every family in Lanarkshire and across Scotland who has had to deal with losing a loved one to drugs.
Last year was the sixth year in a row to set a new record high for the number of drug-related deaths in the country.
Addressing MSP at First Minister’s Questions last month, Ms Sturgeon said: “The figures that were published are completely unacceptable and therefore nobody will hear political answers from me on the subject.
“We have much to do to sort this out and sorting it out is our responsibility – and it is a serious responsibility.
“Behind every one of these statistics is a human being whose life mattered – someone’s son or daughter, mother or father, brother or sister.
“I am sorry to every family that has suffered grief. Every person who dies an avoidable death because of drug use has been let down.
“The fact is that this is difficult and complex but that is not an excuse.
“There is much work underway but these figures tell us that we need to do more and we need to do it more quickly.”
Labour’s health spokesperson and Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon has condemned the figures.
She said: “Every drug-related death is an avoidable tragedy, and the scale of the crisis in Lanarkshire and across Scotland demands a radical rethink from all political leaders.
“Scotland’s drug death rate is one of the worst in the world.
“We cannot sweep this public health and human rights emergency under the carpet a moment longer. Safe consumption facilities and increased rapid access to residential rehabilitation are vital and could happen today
“The Scottish Government doesn’t need to wait. People who misuse drugs and their families need urgent action and telling people whose lives are in turmoil to be patient is insulting and unambitious.
“All political parties should be willing to work together to end the stigma, save lives and to help Scotland’s recovery community thrive.” Former public health minister Joe Fitzpatrick has since been sacked by the Scottish Government and a new minister for drugs policy, Angela Constance, has been appointed in the role.