YESTERDAY we had the tragic confirmation that 1187 people lost their lives to drug-related deaths in Scotland last year. It is a sobering statistic. Each one of those deaths is a tragedy, with far-reaching impacts on victims’ friends, families and their communities.
For that reason, it is vital this emergency is treated as a public health issue. I am determined to shape our services in every walk of life to prevent harm and reduce this appalling number of deaths.
That’s why I have established an expert taskforce chaired by Professor Catriona Matheson, an international expert in addiction studies from the University of Stirling. I’ve asked this group to examine what works and advise me on the changes we need in practice or in law to help save lives and reduce harm.
We’ve brought forward new plans and investment to help stem the tide, focusing on how we support those who are most at risk and treat the wider issues affecting them. That means all of Scotland’s public services recognising the impact of a person’s past experiences and understanding where people might need additional support.
READ MORE: Scottish drug deaths: Joe FitzPartick's plea to Tories for talks
The bottom line is that addressing drug deaths is not simply a matter of addressing the use of drugs – it means tackling wider mental health needs, housing needs, employability or isolation issues.
Improving how we support people harmed by drugs and alcohol is one of the hardest and most complex problems we face.
But I am clear that the ill-health and deaths caused by substance use are avoidable and we must do everything we can to prevent them.
We want to take innovative and bold measures, looking at the evidence for what’s worked well internationally, in order to save the lives of those most at risk.
This approach is highlighted by our support for Glasgow’s proposal for safer medically-supervised drug consumption facilities.
These facilities are not a silver bullet, but health professionals and experts agree their introduction could help tackle drug deaths and drug-related harm right now.
READ MORE: Scottish drug deaths: Austerity and cuts 'partly to blame'
However, policy on the use of controlled drugs is currently reserved to the UK Government, which we have called on to use its powers through the Misuse of Drugs Act to enable us to implement safe consumption facilities in Glasgow.
This has been further reinforced during the evidence sessions at the Scottish Select Affairs Committee investigation into drug use, and I gave evidence to the committee last week on the same issue.
If we are going to address the harms and the stigma that drug use has on both the individuals whose lives have been needlessly lost and on their communities, then we have to see change.
I am pleading with the UK Government to at least sit down with me so we can discuss how we make these changes that, while difficult, are so tangibly necessary in the face of this debt paid in human lives.
I know that I and any UK Government minister will never see eye to eye on the constitution, but frankly that simply does not matter here. Lives are at stake, please help us save them.
Joe FitzPatrick is Scotland’s Minister for Public Health
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