The SNP Government have been told to finally give Scotland’s drug-deaths epidemic the attention it merits after the latest “heart-breaking” toll of fatalities was revealed today.
Official National Records of Scotland figures show that there were 1,330 drug-related deaths in 2021.
It means Scotland retains the worst drug-fatality rate in Europe – by a staggeringly high margin.
The figures are essentially unchanged from 2020’s record high of 1,339 deaths, and the 2021 total means Scotland’s death rate is 4.9 times higher than that of England and Wales, and 3.8 times higher than that of the next worst European nation, Norway.
The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has soared on Nicola Sturgeon’s watch – and the First Minister last year admitted taking her eye off the ball when it came to the crisis.
The Scottish Conservatives are demanding that she now gets serious about tackling Scotland’s “national emergency” by backing leader Douglas Ross’s landmark Right to Recovery Bill.
It would enshrine in law the right of everyone with an addiction problem to receive the potentially life-saving treatment they need. The bill goes before the Scottish Parliament later this year.
The SNP have said they will give Right to Recovery a fair hearing, but Douglas Ross says they must stop dithering and back legislation which enjoys the overwhelming support of experts and charities.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “The enormity of this national emergency is laid bare in this heart-breaking toll of fatalities.
“These figures are a badge of shame for Nicola Sturgeon, who has presided over a huge escalation in Scotland’s drug-deaths epidemic during her time in office.
“But, amid the statistics, we must never forget that every individual who has died has left behind grieving friends and families.
“Scotland’s drug-deaths rate is not merely worse than that of any other European nation, it’s so off-the-scale bad, so uniquely awful, that the SNP Government have to accept their current approach isn’t working.
“It was a shameful admission by Nicola Sturgeon that she took her eye off the ball with drugs deaths. Now she and the SNP need to get behind Right to Recovery.
“The bill addresses one of the biggest obstacles those with addiction issues face in turning their lives around – namely accessing treatment programmes, including residential rehab.
“That’s why Right to Recovery is supported by experts, charities and those with lived experience of addiction.
“If the SNP stop dithering, and support this bill, we can begin to take much-needed action now.”
Notes
Today’s NRS report on drug-related deaths can be found here: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland/2021
The Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce final report, published last week, can be found here: https://drugdeathstaskforce.scot/news-information/publications/reports/final-report/