Minister’s call to put politics to the side

Political differences must be put to the side to solve Scotland’s drugs crisis, a leading minister has said.

The Rev Brian Casey, who has conducted hundreds of funerals following drug-related deaths – including three in the same family – has called for “bold action” ahead of the two summits in Glasgow this week.

There were 66 drug-related fatalities in Dundee in 2018 and the 2019 total is expected to be even higher.

In Scotland there were 1,187 in 2018, 27% up on the previous year, and higher per capita than any other European country.

Mr Casey, who will address the UK-wide summit tomorrow, said: “It breaks my heart that hardly a day goes by where I don’t see death or pain and brokenness associated with drugs.

“As a former police officer I was on the frontline of the war on drugs and I am still fighting, but now realise that the addicts are the real victims.”

Glasgow-based Mr Casey said one of the first drug-related funerals he conducted was for a two-year-old girl.

“She swallowed a fake Valium left lying around by a mother so caught up in addiction that she didn’t notice or didn’t care,” he said.

“When I close my eyes I still see that wee girl’s pink coffin being carried into the church and her 11-year-old sister give a eulogy for a beautiful little soul taken far too soon.

“I am reminded of a 16-yearold girl with her life ahead of her who took one ecstasy tablet in a moment of weakness and she died almost instantly.

“Or the brothers aged 11 and 15 who came to me to arrange their 43-year-old estranged father’s funeral.”

Now he is calling on ministers from both governments to work together to reduce drug deaths,

“I hope members of Scotland’s two governments set aside their differences and commit to working together for the common good,” he said.

“I hope they agree that enough is enough and pledge to be bold and innovative and make real, meaningful change for people who want a hand up to help themselves.

“The status quo is no longer an option.”