Sturgeon sorry for drug death figure
Nicola Sturgeon has ap olo - gi se dover the “completely unacceptable” rise in drug deaths in Scotland, with the figure now among the worst in the developed world.
The SNP leader faced criticism from opponents at Holyrood on Thursday over cuts to rehabilitation and support services after figures this week revealed 1,200 people died from drugs-related issues last year – the highest annual total since records began.
But the First Minister accepted the criticism was “valid and legitimate” and pledged the issue would now bean urgent priority for the Scottish Government.
She said: “The figures that were published this week were completely unacceptable and therefore you will not hear political answers from me on this.
"We have much to do to sort this out and sorting it out is our responsibility and it is a serious responsibility.
"Behind every single one of these statistics is a human being whose life mattered – someone’s son or daughter, mother, father, brother or sister.
"And I am sorry to every family who has suffered grief. Every person who dies an avoidable death from drugs use is being let down.”
The First Minister told MSPS the issue was “difficult and complex”. But she added: “That is not an excuse.
“These figures tell us that we need to do more and we need to do it quickly.”
Ms Sturgeon will attend the next meeting of S cotland’s drugs deaths taskforce next month to “take stock” and consider what“immediate steps” can be taken to address the issue.
She will then make a state - ment to MSPS before the end of next month setting out the action the Government will take.
But Ms Sturgeon admitted there may be a need for more funding to improve drugs services.
Tor y leader Ruth Davidson had raised concerns over rehabilitation provision, pointing to the example of Castle Craig Hospital in Pee bless hire where 256 NHS patients were admitted in 2002 – but only five last year.
Labour leader Richard Leonard repeated his party’s calls for public health minister Joe Fitzpatrick, who oversees the d r u g s p o l i c y, t o b e s a c k e d .