Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie and LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
By Bill Heaney
Scottish Labour has warned that not enough progress is being made tackling drug deaths in Scotland as a new report shows on average 100 people are dying every month.
The latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) report showed that between March and May 2023 the number of drug deaths remained similar to the previous year, with an average of 100 people dying every month.
Drug-related attendances at emergency departments soared by 13 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.
Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said “This eye-opening report is a tragic reminder of how much work still needs to be done to prevent drug deaths in Scotland.
“It has been years since the Scottish Government declared a public health emergency – but progress has been far too slow and far too many lives are still being lost to drugs.
“We urgently need to improve the support available for those struggling and ensure that people can get the life-saving treatment they need, when they need it.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today urged the government to move further and faster following the publication of the report.
The report shows an increase in the number of people attending A&E due to a drug-related incident and a rise in drug deaths earlier this year.
Public Health Scotland’s Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response report, published today, shows that between March and May 2023 there was a 13% increase in the number of drug-related attendances at emergency departments compared to the same period in 2022.
The report also shows that from March to May 2023, there was an average monthly total of 100 suspected drugs deaths. Deaths increased in May, with 30 deaths observed in the week beginning 15 May.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “Ever since Nicola Sturgeon slashed drug service budgets by more than 20% in 2016, this SNP government has presided over a public health disaster and drug deaths that are now many times worse than anywhere else in Europe.
“This report confirms that the government is still woefully behind the curve.
“My party has been calling for the decriminalisation of drug misuse for years. If the Scottish Government is at last serious about reform in this area, this will take detailed work both here in Scotland and in partnership with colleagues across the UK and beyond.
“To turn a corner in this crisis, Scottish Liberal Democrats also want to see the immediate introduction of specialist drugs commissions, safe consumption rooms across the country and greater support for staff and services.
“It’s time to stop people dying.” Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report – July 2023:
- The average weekly number of drug-related attendances at emergency departments increased between March and May 2023. A total of 1,081 attendances were recorded in this period – similar to 2021 (1,058), and 13% higher than in the same time period in 2022 (954).
- The average weekly number of suspected drug deaths was broadly stable from the end of February to the beginning of May 2023 (23 per week) and then increased throughout May. There was an average monthly total of 100 suspected drug deaths from March to May 2023. This was similar to the average monthly total in March to May 2022 (102).
Perhaps the Dame should give us back our human rights, making it safer to go for “professional help”.