Drug-deaths report warning
CAMPAIGNERS will gather outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh today as the annual figures on the number of drugs deaths in Scotland are published.
The Faces & Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) charity will stage the protest as part of its on-going campaign for greater access to rehabilitation services for those struggling with addiction.
The number of those dying from drugs in Scotland has rocketed over the last 15 years, with the country having the highest proportion of such fatalities in western Europe.
Nicola Sturgeon has promised action and her government appointed a dedicated minister to oversee the response.
Scottish Labour warned drug deaths are continuing to “devastate” families ahead of the new NRS report on drug-related deaths in 2021.
Earlier this week, Public Health Scotland published a report revealing more than one-in-three people who died from a drugrelated death in 2018 was a parent or guardian to a child. This resulted in 566 children losing a parent or guardian to drugs.
Claire Baker, Scottish Labour spokeswoman for drugs policy, said: “Every single drug-related death is preventable, and a tragedy. The Scottish Government need to respond to the recommendations of the Scottish Drug Death Taskforce and deliver the meaningful change we need, including investing in services and the MAT standards.”
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “These figures mean Scotland has not just the worst death rate per head of population in Europe – but the worst by such an enormous margin it’s hard to get your head around.”