RADICAL ACTION NOW, SAYS MP
SCOTTISH Tories were yesterday accused of hypocrisy for condemning a drugs initiative they helped create.
They tried to pin blame on the SNP Government for failures in the national drugs strategy – but the “Road to Recovery” was passed off as a Tory initiative when it was adopted in 2008.
Former Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie claimed it as a victory when she helped prop up Alex Salmond’s first minority government.
It was endorsed by Ruth Davidson in 2012.
But yesterday, Tories claimed the current strategy needs more than a “refresh” and called for a full parliamentary review.
It followed figures showing Scotland is the most drugs-blighted country in Europe.
Deaths were up by 23 per cent to 867 last year, with a death count 2.5 times higher than England and 27 times higher than Portugal.
A huge rise in the use of “street valium” helped drive the total to the record high.
Scots Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said the drugs culture had been allowed to escalate out of control.
He said: “A strategy refresh won’t cut it. We need a full parliamentary review of drugs policy in Scotland.”
Lib Dem health spokesman Alex ColeHamilton said Tories cannot be taken seriously after backing the plan in the first place.
He said: “People will recall that Road to Recovery, the Scottish Government’s drug strategy, was a Tory initiative that was adopted by the SNP as the price for votes to pass their budget. “Compounded by a more than
20 per cent cut in funding to drug services, this strategy has been found hopelessly wanting.
“We need to re-examine our approach and immediately restore funding to local services.”
The Tories dismissed the accusation, adding: “If the Lib Dems want to tackle Scotland’s drugs problem by focusing on budget votes almost a decade ago, it’s just as well their sorry collection of MSPs have minimal influence in Holyrood.”
The latest figures showed the strategy has
People will recall that Road to Recovery was a Tory initiative adopted by SNP ALEX COLE-HAMILTON
not turned around the country’s damaging drugs problem.
They also revealed the extent of the toll caused by “blue plague” pills, benzodiazepines, mostly made up of etizolam and diazepam.
Sold for 50p, the pills are often mixed with other drugs such as heroin and methadone.
Benzodiazepines were present in the deaths of 426 drug victims last year – up from 191 in 2015 – a 123 per cent rise.
The Record has campaigned for action to stamp out the scourge.
The Scottish Government have pledged to mount an information campaign about “blue plague” pills.
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: “Our strategy for addressing drugs is to be renewed, and tackling benzodiazepines will form part of that.”