Scotland’s official drugs deaths figures for 2024 “lay bare the tragic human toll” of years of SNP failure, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
Stats published today by National Records of Scotland show there were 1,017 fatalities last year as a result of substance misuse, meaning the country remains the drugs death capital of Europe.
Scottish Conservative shadow drugs minister Annie Wells said: “These devastating figures lay bare the tragic human toll of Scotland’s drugs emergency which has spiralled out of control on the SNP’s watch.
“It’s heartbreaking and intolerable that so many lives continue to be lost, and so many families left bereft, because Scotland has the highest drugs death rate in Europe. And it’s shameful that, as ever with this Nationalist government, those living in the poorest areas are worst affected.
“SNP ministers have repeatedly taken their eye off the ball, and still have no coherent and credible strategy for tackling this national crisis.
“Despite pinning all their hopes on drugs consumption rooms being the solution, the fatality rate so far in 2025 – since The Thistle opened – is up once again.
“Instead of state-sponsored drug-taking, the focus should be on treatment and rehab. John Swinney must stop the dithering and finally back the Scottish Conservatives’ Right to Recovery Bill, which will guarantee every Scot the right to receive potentially life-saving treatment.”