Scottish Government failing to make a dent on drugs deaths

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today criticised the Scottish Government over its failure to reduce drug deaths as a new report revealed that almost 100 Scots per month are still dying from suspected drug deaths.

New figures published by Public Health Scotland today confirm that "Suspected drug deaths remained high and broadly stable from December 2022 to the end of February 2023, averaging 96 deaths per month".

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

"These figures show that Scotland's drug death catastrophe continues to rumble on, cutting short lives and devastating families. This is the appalling legacy of Nicola Sturgeon's government.

"The Scottish Government has made a series of grand proclamations but it is still struggling to make a dent in drugs deaths.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for the immediate introduction of specialist drug commissions, the decriminalisation of drug misuse and for safe consumption spaces to be available across the country.  

“The Scottish Government needs to offer families more than cheap talk.”