Drugs tsar quits amid reports of ‘little to no progress’ over crisis

Dundee’s fight against drug deaths has been thrown into further chaos after the city’s addiction tsar quit his role amid growing frustration over the “glacial” pace of progress.

The departure of Simon Little as independent chairman of the Dundee Alcohol and Drugs Partnership was described by a local MSP as evidence “little to no progress” has been made to tackle the overdose crisis.

Mr Little declined to comment on the reasons for his resignation and it is understood the decision came as a surprise to many involved.

But we can reveal growing frustrations among those charged with tackling Dundee’s drug deaths record.

A commission looking at ways to fix the crisis reported earlier this year that the scale of the problem is greater than feared.

The Dundee Drugs Commission said action had not gone “far enough, deep enough or fast enough” and set out new recommendations.

A senior figure with links to the Dundee Alcohol and Drugs Partnership said: “I think we’ve all got frustrations about the progress – or the pace of the progress.”

The official described how people supposedly tackling substance deaths are bogged down with red tape.

The Dundee Alcohol and Drugs Partnership reports to the Dundee Partnership – a team including members of the council, police, charities, NHS Tayside and others.

The source said: “I’ll be honest – the whole thing is bloody frustrating and I think we need to make far more rapid progress than we’re currently making.”

North East Labour MSP Michael Marra said Mr Little’s appointment had been seen by the SNP administration as evidence of progress.

He added: “His resignation now is evidence that little to no progress has been made. Reform is urgent and the delays can only be measured in deaths.

The Dundee Partnership plans to publish a statement of intent later this month in response to the Drugs Commission report before setting out a detailed action plan

this summer.

Simon Little.