Stats likely to spark a familiar debate

Every year drug death statistics are released, and every year they are greeted with horror.

With monotonous regularity, the cry that “something must be done” can be heard across the length and breadth of the country.

Politicians of every shade (though admittedly the ferocity of the argument may be dependent on who wields power at the time) insist whatever action has been taken to tackle the menace of rampant drug addiction has manifestly failed.

So perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by the latest statistics.

Yet again they provide a depressing snapshot of a nation riddled with drug abuse.

As in previous years, there are calls to end the “status quo” approach. And yet the potential solutions are unpalatable to many. Should “shooting galleries” be established to provide a “safe” place for addicts to indulge their craving? Or does this merely serve to legitimise drug abuse? The debate is certainly likely to be re-ignited as a result of the latest statistics, but once again there is unlikely to be any sign of real or meaningful change.

What everybody can surely agree upon is that the current approach is not working.

Novel solutions may not be universally popular, but – when it comes to tackling addiction – society is rapidly running out of choices.