MSP: ‘Stigma of alcohol misuse is costing lives’

An MSP whose father died from alcohol misuse has said stigma around alcohol and drug problems is costing lives.

Labour’s Monica Lennon led a member’s debate at Holyrood on alcohol- and drugrelated deaths, following an emotional contribution in the chamber earlier this year about substance misuse and her father’s death.

The latest figures show 1,265 people in Scotland died from alcohol problems in 2016 and 867 people from illegal drugs – increases of 10 per cent and 23 per cent respectively from the previous year.

Ms Lennon appealed for a “radical cultural change” to tackle stigma around alcohol and drug problems which she said prevents people from 0 Monica Lennon said stigma is costing lives in Scotland accessing help. She called for “dehumanising” labels such as “alky, jakey and junkie” to be abandoned.

She also highlighted the influence of figures in popular culture such as Rab C Nesbitt, saying he made heavy drinking appear “a lifestyle choice, and certainly not one that the middle class would make”.