Brian Whittle MSP has condemned the Scottish Government’s failure to tackle the soaring numbers of drug related deaths in Scotland, as the newest figures showed a record number of deaths for the sixth year running.
Brian, the Scottish Conservative spokesperson for Public Health, challenged the SNP health minister Joe Fitzpatrick to act, accusing the Scottish Government of ignoring possible measures that are in their power now in favour of turning drug deaths into a constitutional issue.
Brian argues that although the criminalising of drugs is reserved to the UK government, the level of drug deaths is a public health emergency and health powers are solely the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
The South Scotland MSP called on Mr Fitzpatrick to take decisive action, laying out a series of steps the Scottish Government could choose to take.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“This is a devastating set of figures and the SNP should be ashamed of their failure to deal with drug deaths after more than a decade in government.
This is a public health crisis and it requires public health measures, not legal arguments and disputes about powers.
They have the power, right now, today, to increase the number of rehab beds, properly fund drug and alcohol partnerships, create new needle exchanges and provide support to the countless addiction support charities across Scotland who are doing their best to help.
The SNP have the power to do all these things, but they seem to lack the will to do the hard work.”
