‘Troubling’ rise in suspected drug deaths prompts calls for new approach

Opposition parties are calling for a fresh approach as new figures showed a “troubling” rise in suspected drug deaths between March and May this year.

The latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (Radar) quarterly ​report showed 312 suspected drug deaths during this period.

This was 15% higher than the previous quarter and 7% higher than the same period the previous year.

The quarterly report is intended to provide “timely indication of trends and to detect any potential recent changes or clusters of harm”.

Scotland’s drug emergency is claiming far too many lives and more must be done to not only save lives but ensure that people can recover

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said: “It is deeply troubling that drug deaths are on the rise again, with 312 suspected drug deaths between March and May this year.

“Scotland’s drug emergency is claiming far too many lives and more must be done to not only save lives but ensure that people can recover.

“The SNP must start delivering a genuinely joined-up approach to tackle the drug-death crisis and ensure that every single person struggling with drug misuse can get the care, support and treatment they need.”

Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: “The tragic rise in suspected fatalities lays bare just how appallingly the SNP are failing to tackle the drugs deaths epidemic they’ve presided over.

“The nationalists continue to pin all their hopes on drugs-consumption rooms as the sole solution to this crisis but, with deaths rising since The Thistle opened, it’s clear their plan is not working.

The tragic rise in suspected fatalities lays bare just how appallingly the SNP are failing to tackle the drugs deaths epidemic they’ve presided over

“Complacent SNP ministers must finally accept that consumption rooms are not a silver bullet for Scotland’s drugs emergency and focus instead on treatment and rehab.”

Louise Stewart, director of operations at drugs charity WithYou, said there should be further safer consumption rooms like the Thistle opened around Scotland, and drug-checking facilities.

She said: “Many of these deaths could be attributed to drugs being contaminated with dangerous synthetic substances, including nitazenes and the risks posed by poly drug use.

“The Scottish Government must take urgent and targeted action to respond to the growing threat of synthetic substances.

Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “Every drug death is a tragedy, and my condolences go to anyone who has lost a loved one.

“I am determined to do more to tackle drug harms and that is why we are providing record levels of funding for drugs and alcohol programmes, including widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone.

“We are also working at pace to deliver drug-checking facilities and we opened the UK’s first safer drug consumption facility which is saving lives.”

She said the Government is working hard to tackle the harm associated with poly drug use and synthetic opioids like nitazenes.