Cole-Hamilton calls for fresh measures to tackle drug deaths crisis

Ahead of the government making a statement to MSPs on Thursday,  Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has said that the SNP Government must announce fresh measures to stop people dying from drugs.

In August, Mr Cole-Hamilton wrote to the Health Secretary to ask that the government make a parliamentary statement on spiralling drug deaths as soon as possible.

This followed new figures that showed there were 1,172 drug deaths in Scotland in 2023. This is an annual increase of 12% and more than double the number of deaths in 2013.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“The rise in drug deaths is devastating and deserves proper parliamentary scrutiny.

“Over the last decade, drug deaths in Scotland have more than doubled. We face a crisis that remains the worst in Europe.

“The Scottish Government need to explain why earlier this year they saw fit to freeze the funding for drug and alcohol policy-a real-terms cut to the budget for critical services. I worry that those services could suffer further cuts which would seriously undermine their ability to support all those who need it.

“Ministers must commit to fresh measures to stop people dying. This includes rolling out a full nationwide network of drug testing and safer consumption facilities- centres that are proven to keep people safe, prevent fatal overdoses and present new pathways for treatment and recovery.

"My party also wants to see a stronger frontline response to synthetic opioids- including nitazenes, which are 50 times more powerful than heroin- through enhanced information, detection and treatment.”