Urgent action needed to tackle drug deaths
Responding to the publication of the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce One Year Report, Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie said:
“Scotland’s drug deaths crisis requires urgent action. This public health emergency was responsible for almost 1,200 deaths in 2018, while the figures for 2019 have been delayed by dithering at the Crown Office.
“I welcome the contribution of the taskforce but it’s clear that neither the Scottish nor UK Government is taking the action required to address drug deaths now. We must never forget that every life lost to drugs is an avoidable tragedy.
“International evidence shows us that adopting a public health outlook and decriminalisation are essential to tackle this ongoing catastrophe.”