POLITICIANS from across the political spectrum have reacted to Scotland's drug deaths rising to a record 1339 in 2020.

The figure is 5% higher than the previous year, when 1264 people lost their lives, according to National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The country continues to have the worst drug death rate in Europe, with 21.2 deaths per 100,000 of the population – more than three-and-a-half times higher than the rest of the UK.

Glasgow was again found to be the worst area for people struggling with addiction, with 291 dying last year in the city.

Opioids remained the number one cause of drug-related death in Scotland in 2020, the new figures show.

READ MORE: Scotland's drug deaths rose by five per cent to a record 1339 in 2020, new figures reveal

Nicola Sturgeon said the numbers are "unacceptable" and said the Scottish Government would put for reform to drugs law.

Scottish Greens health and social care spokesperson Gillian Mackay MSP said the deaths are "a preventable tragedy".

She added: “Today’s tragic figures are yet another reminder of the devastating impact of drug misuse has on communities in Scotland. Every single one of these deaths is a preventable tragedy.

“The approach to drugs, pursued by both the UK and Scottish governments, must change. The war on drugs has demonstrably failed, it’s long past time we treated this crisis as the public health emergency that it is. It is time for an approach which focuses on restoring people’s dignity and treating their addiction, rather than criminalising them.

“While long term plans are now being developed to tackle this crisis, they come far too late for many. And for those in crisis now, they need to see urgent action, not more empty words.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Today’s drug death figures should shame Scotland – it should never have been allowed to get to this point.  

"Each and every one of these deaths is a travesty, and each one is preventable.

"It is not enough for the Government to express regret at these heartbreaking figures – they must be a call to action.

"Every year we get devastating figures, every year they get worse and every year we hear regret from the Government. Today’s statistics shouldn’t be the wake-up call. Almost daily deaths should be.

"These are the tragic consequences of years of failure to get to grips with this growing crisis in Scotland and to address the threat posed by drugs.  

"We have the same drugs laws as the rest of the UK but three and a half times the rate of drugs deaths.

"We need to look at every option to address this travesty - but we cannot afford to kick this into the long grass when lives are at stake. We can and must act now, by investing in a range of services and delivering truly person-centred treatment and recovery.”

READ MORE: SNP MP shares family tragedy as he responds to drug deaths report

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented: "This will be a terribly hard day for all those who lost a loved one last year. Each and every life lost is a tragedy.

"Every drug death is preventable. However, that task became ten times harder when SNP ministers avoided the subject ahead of the independence referendum, as that justice secretary admitted, and then cut the budget for critical prevention services by 22%.

"Help and expertise that people relied upon was needlessly surrendered when it should have been expanded. 

"It was Nicola Sturgeon's choice to ignore this unfolding epidemic. Issuing apologies now is too late for thousands of people. The victims of drugs and their families were failed. It is a scar on the conscience of this Scottish Government."

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has said the latest drug death statistics are a “stain on Scotland”.

Ross’ party has proposed a Right to Recovery Bill, which would enshrine in law the right for someone struggling with addiction to receive the treatment they request.

He said: “These latest statistics are horrifying and heartbreaking. Behind every number is a lost loved one and a broken family.

“These shocking figures alone cannot capture the agony, pain and devastation that the drugs crisis is causing in communities across Scotland.

“The drugs crisis is our national shame. It is a stain on Scotland that so many of our most vulnerable people have been left without hope, crushed by a system that is thoroughly broken.

“This is not a day for political posturing but it is a simple fact that the Government’s small steps are not cutting it. The crisis is getting worse and spiralling out of control.

“We need a united national effort to make the drastic changes necessary to overhaul the broken system.”

Dr Rebecca Lawrence, the chair of the addictions faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, said the number of drug deaths was “spiralling out of control”.

She said: “Rehabilitation should always be there at the right time, for the right individuals.

“Other facilities like safe consumption rooms may also help those who can’t stop injecting, but one size does not fit all and fully resourced community services, with rapid access for all patients, must be provided.

“It’s shameful that Scotland still continues to be known as the drug-death capital of Europe.

“Stigma still very much exists and what we need now is a public health, evidence-based approach to tackle dependency.”

In response to last year’s figures, which caused then-public health minister Joe FitzPatrick resign, the Scottish Government announced a £250 million investment – £100m of which would be for the improvement of residential rehab.