900 suspected drug deaths in the first nine months of 2023

Responding to new figures published by the Scottish Government which show that 900 people died of suspected drug death between January and September 2023, which is a 13% increase from the same period in 2022, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:  

“These figures are heartbreaking. Behind each and every one of them is a life cut short and a family torn apart by grief.  

“We can prevent more families being devastated like this, but today’s figures do not give me much hope that the Scottish Government have a plan of action for doing that.

“Every tool at our disposal needs to be used  in order to reduce harm and save lives. Scottish Liberal Democrats believe the Scottish Government need to lay the ground work now for a network of safe consumptions rooms so that once the Glasgow pilot is complete, there is no gap in support.  

“SNP cuts to drug and alcohol services' budgets have reverberated down the years. Humza Yousaf and the government he leads must make sure they never take their eye off the ball again”.