DEADLY COST OF SNP DRUG POLICY
Soft-touch justice blamed as drugs death toll soars to 700 a year
THE number of drug deaths in Scotland has soared to a record high after nearly a decade of ‘soft-touch’ justice under the SNP. Shocking new figures reveal the number of drug-related fatalities in 2015 was 706, or roughly two a day – up from 613 in 2014.
The death toll has surged by more than 50 per cent since 2007, when the Nationalists came to power.
In the past year, cocaine deaths have more than doubled, while heroin fatalities reached an all-time high of 345.
It has been claimed the figures are a damning indictment of failed SNP policies to tackle the drugs menace, which began with a £94million strategy to help addicts recover, launched in 2008.
Last night, critics claimed that ‘softtouch’ punishments such as warnings or community service had fuelled the rise in fatalities. Leading drugs expert Professor Neil McKeganey said that police and ministers had ‘effectively decriminalised use of cannabis’ – widely seen as a ‘gateway drug’ for class A substances.
He added: ‘In the face of those liberal policies, drug deaths have steadily increased to such an extent that the
Government’s drugs policy is now in tatters. When will they learn that they need to prioritise getting addicts off drugs rather than trying to help them use drugs with lower levels of harm and risk?
‘Glasgow is now considering providing drug users with a safe injecting centre. Politicians in Scotland need to wake up to the reality of their failed policies.’
In 2008, community safety minister Fergus Ewing launched a strategy for tackling drug abuse, focusing on helping addicts become drug-free, with £94million to be spent on rehabilitation over three years.
Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill, who has since said he would be in favour of decriminalising some drugs, said in a Holyrood debate at the time: ‘We must try to get people off [heroin substitute] methadone.’
But the new figures show methadone deaths accounted for 36 per cent of all drugrelated fatalities, and the number is growing. It was implicated in 251 deaths, up from 214 in 2014, a rise of more than 17 per cent.
Since 2007, the drug death toll has risen by more than half, from 455 to 706 last year (55 per cent). Heroin deaths have increased from 309 to 345 in the past year while cocainenumbers
‘The Government’s drug policy is in tatters’
related fatalities more than doubled from 45 to 93.
Deaths from Ecstasy-type substances have tripled from five in 2008 to 15 last year, up from 14 the previous year. There were 74 deaths in which new psychoactive substances – so-called legal highs – were implicated, up from 62 the previous year.
The statistics, released by the National Records of Scotland (NRS), show men accounted for 69 per cent of drug deaths.
Last night, Chief Superintendent Barry McEwan of Police Scotland said: ‘The rise in drug-related deaths is disappointing and unfortunately every death leaves a tragedy in our communities and shows there is no safe way to take drugs – those who choose to take the risk of using drugs are risking their life.’
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Douglas Ross said: ‘It’s extremely worrying to see the level of drug-related deaths in Scotland continuing to rise.
‘There is clearly a problem here – for these to double in the space of a decade is much more than just a statistical blip.’
Scottish Labour inequalities spokesman Monica Lennon said: ‘These figures should act as a wake-up call to the SNP Government that they need to get serious about treatment for addictions.’
Scottish Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton called on the Government to adopt a ‘radical new approach’ to drug misuse.
Asked to explain where the £94million had been spent, Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said the total sum invested in tackling problem alcohol and drug use since 2008 was ‘over £630million’. She added: ‘Drug use is falling among the general population and among young people is at its lowest level for a decade. Drugs deaths in the younger age group have fallen.
‘These figures show that we have an ageing group of drug users who are experiencing increasingly poor health. This is a legacy of Scotland’s drug misuse which stretches back decades.
‘To address this we have funded research to investigate the issues associated with older drug users through the Scottish Drugs Forum. We have also achieved significant reductions in treatment times for those needing treatment for their drug problem.
‘We remain committed to tackling the scourge of illegal drugs and the damage they do to our communities, and to support those who are struggling with addiction.’