Miles Briggs MSP

Edinburgh, 29 in Ayrshire, and Lothian had seven deaths being investigated for links to drugs.

Scotland’s drug death rate is nearly three times that of the UK as a whole and is higher than that reported for any other EU country.

Conservative Lothian MSP Miles Briggs said: “Every life lost to drug addiction is a tragedy and affects families across Lothian and the rest of Scotland.

“Scotland has seen an escalation of the drug deaths crisis over the last 10 years and a radical new approach is needed if we are to turn things around.

“Alcohol and Drug

Partnerships must be properly funded so that addicts can get the support that they need.

“If SNP Mi n i s t e r s genuinely want to make a transformational approach to turn the drug deaths emergency in Scotland around, and I believe they do, then we need to take forward a radical and new approach to drug and alcohol abuse, treatment, education and recovery.

“Only then will we as a country be able to deliver the real change that will save lives now and prevent a future generation of drug deaths and substance abuse.

“Regardless of party politics we all want to see this unacceptable situation in Scotland tuned around. That will take real leadership and an honest approach to understand that the services we hope can address substance misuse in communities across Scotland is broken. Let’s make 2020 the year we start to fix Scotland’s drug deaths crisis.”

Labour MSP Neil Findlay said: “The drugs crisis is affecting every city, town and village in Scotland – Scotland is heading for the scandalous record of having the highest level of drugs deaths in the developed world. This requires an immediate and emergency response.

“If 1300 cows had died of foot and mouth disease, there would be rightly be a massive reaction with emergency funding and Government action but because this is people with an addiction the response is pathetic by comparison.

“I hear every week from the families of people desperate for help but who cannot get the support and mental heath care they need. People are desperate to be free of their addiction but they just cannot access the services they need.

“My heart breaks for the families who have lost people to drugs, the system is failing them.”

SNP MSP Angela

Constance said: “Across Scotland lives are being lost with tragedies amongst people of all ages due to street or online drugs, overdose, suicide or long term health conditions.

“Drugs are often used to mask mental health problems or to help people cope with a past trauma.

“These are sensitive and difficult issues that requires thoughtful and effective action by local and national governments.

“The Scottish Government has established a Drugs Death Taskforce to take radical steps to address this emergency and have invested an additional £20million.

“It is also imperative that debates about treatment, services and reforming the legislation that is reserved to Westminster is based on the evidence of what actually works.”