The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Minister ‘has no power’ to declare emergency
MSP Joe FitzPatrick says it is up to UK Government to make decision
The public health minister has said he does not have the power to declare a national emergency in response to Scotland’s drugs death crisis.
Backed by Dundee recovery campaigner Sharon Brand and prominent rapper, author and poet Darren “Loki” McGarvey, Scottish Labour’s shadow health spokeswoman Monica Lennon demanded action similar to the urgency of dealing with a natural disaster in how to tackle the increase in drug harm.
It is understood 1,187 Scottish people suffered drug-induced deaths in 2018 – the highest rate in the developed world. Of those, 66 were from Dundee. The inaugural report from the Dundee Drug Commission was also published earlier this summer.
Co-founder of Recovery Dundee Sharon Brand recently featured on a documentary made by Mr McGarvey detailing how she helps those on the recovery path.
She said every drug user her recovery group works with has suffered from childhood trauma, either through neglect or serious sexual and physical abuse.
Speaking to The Courier following a meeting at the Scottish Parliament yesterday with Ms Lennon and Mr McGarvey, Ms Brand said she was feeling “optimistic” recovery voices are starting to be heard.
“Thursday morning’s meeting at the Scottish Parliament was one of the first times I feel the recovery community has been represented well and our voices listened to,” she said.
“Declaring a national emergency has to happen. The recovery community is the most marginalised in Scotland. If the rate of death had occurred to any other group it would have been called long before now.”
Ms Lennon, who lodged a motion at Holyrood on the issue, said: “Scotland’s drug death emergency is tragic, it is heart-wrenching and it is shameful, and it cannot be allowed to continue.
“We are asking the Scottish Government to legally designate a public health emergency.”
Ms Lennon said a drugs emergency could be declared as part of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, which describes emergencies as “events that threaten serious damage to human life”.
“It would allow ministers to direct, co-ordinate and monitor the response of public bodies like health boards, local councils and the police to make sure that communities get what they need,” she added.
While Dundee MSP Joe FitzPatrick, the minister for public health, agreed the drugs crisis is an emergency, he said the power to declare one lies with the UK Government.
He said: “The question about legally declaring a public emergency, if I had levers within my powers I could assure you I would absolutely use them.
“I absolutely not do not want to make this into a constitutional issue but unfortunately the specific powers to do that rest with the UK government. If I can find any other ways I will.”