Help us win drug reforms, Starmer

THE Daily Record called for an overhaul of how our society deals with our drugs crisis more than a year ago.

Our campaign helped change the way many Scots think and talk about drug addiction.

News that Scottish Labour is now officially adopting a similar stance, calling for the decriminalisation of the possession of drugs, is to be commended, even if party leaders have been sluggish in moving with the times.

There is now unquestionably a clear majority of Scottish politicians in support of the shift in ideology advocated by the Record.

With more drug deaths than any other nation, Scotland is crying out for truly radical reforms.

But the reality is that the UK Tory government is stuck in the past, rigidly clinging to punitive drug laws that were drawn up 50 years ago.

Scotland needs ways to stopping overdoses turn into deaths and ways of bringing more addicts into services that can help them manage their addictions.

We also need more services that can help those who have made a clear commitment to achieving drug-free lives, with proper through-care that can stay with the recovering patient – for years if need be.

One major sticking point in achieving reform is the UK Labour Party, which chooses to look the other way on this thorny issue.

The Record believes it is a matter of time before progressive, health-based drugs policies are adopted in the UK.

We call on Keir Starmer to get on board with his Scottish colleagues and ramp up the call for strategies that will undoubtedly save lives.