Drug crisis ‘forgotten’ at Holyrood

cotland’s politicians have “forgotten” about the drug deaths crisis devastating communities, claim campaigners in a new report calling for changes to treatment.

The Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) first year report says politicians remain “out-of-touch” with the real situation on the streets of towns and cities.

Figures released in summer show there were 62 drug deaths in Aberdeen last year – a rise of 10% – and a new record for the city.

Moray had the highest death rate rise last year at 70%, with 17 people dying of drug-related causes, up from 10 in 2020.

The report, which makes six key recommendations to improve the current treatment system, will be launched at Bluevale Community Centre in Glasgow today.

It finds people are often left waiting years for appointments with recovery services and details how some seeking treatment are often given no say in their options.

The analysis states there is a “postcode lottery of treatment” with residential rehabilitation referral processes “still inconsistent across the country”.

The report comes a year after SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross held a meeting at the same location to discuss the crisis.

Earlier this year, the first minister was told to “step up to the plate” and deliver the cultural change needed to tackle the country’s drug deaths emergency.

Mr Ross said the “damning report shows that drug deaths remain Scotland’s national shame on Nicola Sturgeon’s watch”.

A total of 1,330 people died from drug use across the country last year – down from 1,339 in 2020.

● Aberdeen: 56 in 2020, rising to 62 in 2021. This is an increase of 10%, one of the highest.

● Aberdeenshire: 33 in 2020, it fell to 31 last year.

● Highland: 33 in 2020, it rose to 35. This is one short of the record of 36 from 2018.

● Moray: 17 in 2021, it was up from 10 in 2020 – a joint record with 2018.

● Orkney: Three in 2020, it fell to a single death last year.

● Shetland: The toll remained the same at four fatalities.

● Western Isles: There was no rise from four deaths in 2020.

The report states: “The political elite’s lack of interest is the reason why we’re in this awful mess, where we have a worst drug death rate than anywhere in the United Kingdom or any other country in Europe.

“The drug death crisis gets shunted to the back of the queue when something comes along that is deemed to be more important.”

FAVOR Scotland CEO Annemarie Ward said: “We hoped government investment and the introduction of new guidelines would improve things but unfortunately, the system remains as broken today as it was a year ago.”

DEMAND: Nicola Sturgeon has been challenged to tackle drugs.