Drug misuse set

New group labelled a top priority by council

A COMMISSION is set to be formed to tackle the scourge of drugs misuse in Dundee.

The Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership (HSPC) has suggested that the new Drugs Commission adopts a similar approach to the recent Fairness Commission, which was set up to tackle poverty in the city.

Details will be discussed at the meeting of the Health and Social Care Partnership on Tuesday.

The move comes following another year blighted by drugs overdoses.

In August, statistics released by the National Records of Scotland showed there were 38 drug-related deaths in the city in 2016 — up from 36 the year before.

The figure is equivalent to an average of 0.23 deaths per 1,000 people living in the area — the highest rate in Scotland — and almost twice the national average of 0.12.

The new group will look to tackle the city’s deep-rooted problem with drugs, an issue which the Tele has covered extensively.

It is planned to be run by an independent body — appointed by the HSPC — and will include a “steering group”.

It is hoped the commission will launch in March.

Speaking to the Tele about the project, council leader John Alexander said: “Tackling the problems that Dundee, like most innercity areas, faces has been a clear objective of our SNP administration since the election in May.