Leadership to tackle the problem is needed urgently
Scotland’s drug crisis has gone beyond urgent with the term “drug deaths emergency” fast becoming meaningless as the government shows a lack of leadership on the issue.
The Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) said new synthetic opioids are exacerbating what is already a crisis and immediate and effective measures must be taken to avoid further catastrophic consequences.
Among the measures being called for is the decriminalisation of the possession of drugs for personal use with alternatives to prosecution for everyone relating to all drugs in any circumstances.
Scotland has recorded record drug deaths in recent years, the highest in the UK and the highest in Europe.
People in the most deprived areas of Scotland are more than 15 times as likely to die from drugs compared to those in an affluent area, according to the National Records of Scotland.
In 2021 there were 1,330 deaths across the country. But new Scottish Government figures due to be published tomorrow, although expected to show a significant reduction in fatalities, will “confirm that drug-related deaths rates in Scotland remain the highest in the UK and Europe” according to SDF.
The charity said Scotland needed “a step change in approach to address what has been clearly lacking and continues to hinder progress – Scotland needs leadership, co-ordinated action and a driving will to change.”
Kirsten Horsburgh, chief executive of Scottish Drug Forum, said: “We are now well beyond the need for urgent action.
“The emergency demands action now and by all means possible. There can be no further delays.
“Everyone seems to know that Scotland has an astonishing rate of drug-related deaths and that was before we saw this emerging trend of new synthetic opioids within the heroin supply. Alarm bells should be ringing all over government and all through the treatment and support services because we are not prepared.
“In truth, we all know exactly what the evidence tells us we should be doing. The question is do we have the collective will to implement the necessary change. Talking on behalf of SDF, we will continue to work to reduce drug deaths and advocate for and with people who are vulnerable to these preventable deaths. We are well positioned to contribute to and support the implementation of change and we re-state our commitment to doing so.”
“SDF is ensuring that the insight of people experiencing drug problems influences the development of policy, practice and service development. We are working to develop and diversify the workforce. We have contributed substantially to the implementation and expansion of the national naloxone programme. We are fighting to keep funding for harm reduction posts in our own organisation and elsewhere.
“There is some progress but the only real measures are both a substantial reduction in deaths and a sustained process of improvement in Scotland’s wider response. We have a long, long way to go.”
Drugs policy is currently reserved to Westminster.
