Drugs deaths

The Ferret

Research from 2018 suggested 35% of people who died from drug overdoses were the mothers and fathers of children under 16

Families on frontline of drug epidemic and the struggles they face

The centre was initially set to open later this month

The centre was initially set to open later this month

Opening of UK's first drugs consumption room in Glasgow delayed

A view of a drugs consumption room, which allows users take heroin under medical supervision, at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility at Hunter Street Health Centre in Glasgow.

A view of a drugs consumption room, which allows users take heroin under medical supervision, at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility at Hunter Street Health Centre in Glasgow.

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Decriminalisation must be on the table to tackle Scotland's drug deaths, say experts

Naloxone can help to save lives by rapidly reversing an opioid overdose

Naloxone can help to save lives by rapidly reversing an opioid overdose

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Scotland saw rise in drugs deaths year-on-year, new figures show

Christina McKelvie welcomed the figures

Christina McKelvie welcomed the figures

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Drug treatment waiting times meet national target in Scotland

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross is pushing for MSPs to back his 'Right to Addiction Recovery Bill'

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross is pushing for MSPs to back his 'Right to Addiction Recovery Bill'

Scottish Conservatives

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Douglas Ross's drugs deaths bill 'may increase harms', experts warn

Drugs Policy Minister Christina McKelvie announced the new funding

Drugs Policy Minister Christina McKelvie announced the new funding

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Millions awarded to Scottish recovery services in push to combat drugs deaths

Douglas Ross at the launch of the Tories' Right to Addiction Recovery Bill on Wednesday May 15

Douglas Ross at the launch of the Tories' Right to Addiction Recovery Bill on Wednesday May 15

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Drug experts 'keeping shtum' despite concerns about Tories' right to recovery bill

Synthetic opioids known as nitazenes pose a 'considerable risk'

Synthetic opioids known as nitazenes pose a 'considerable risk'

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Warning issued as nine Scots die after taking 'Frankenstein' heroin

A view of a drugs consumption room at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility at Hunter Street Health Centre in Glasgow

A view of a drugs consumption room at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility at Hunter Street Health Centre in Glasgow

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UK Government pledges not to 'interfere' in Scotland's drugs consumption room pilot

Tory Commons leader Penny Mordaunt (left) has been criticised by drugs reform campaigners including Peter Krykant

Tory Commons leader Penny Mordaunt (left) has been criticised by drugs reform campaigners including Peter Krykant

Conservative Party

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Drug reform experts condemn Tory minister after SNP 'heroin' comments

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he did not support a safe consumption space in Glasgow

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he did not support a safe consumption space in Glasgow

Conservative Party

20

Safe drugs consumption space in Glasgow won't work, Rishi Sunak claims

Drugs Minister Elena Whitham has explained why a previous drug consumption room bid failed

Drugs Minister Elena Whitham has explained why a previous drug consumption room bid failed

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Previous drug consumption room bid failed because of legal oversight, minister says

Humza Yousaf urged the UK Government to reconsider its 'ideological opposition' to safe consumption rooms

Humza Yousaf urged the UK Government to reconsider its 'ideological opposition' to safe consumption rooms

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First Minister urges UK Government not to block safe drug consumption room pilot

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain has given the nod for drug consumption rooms to go ahead in Scotland

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain has given the nod for drug consumption rooms to go ahead in Scotland

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Drug consumption rooms given green light by top Government lawyer

13 Glasgow politicians have called for a safe consumption room pilot to be given the green light

13 Glasgow politicians have called for a safe consumption room pilot to be given the green light

Glasgow politicians issue joint call for Home Office to allow safe consumption rooms

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer speaks to Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar during a campaign event

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer speaks to Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar during a campaign event

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'Capitulating' Anas Sarwar U-turns on calls for 'greater devolution'

Justina Murray says decriminalisation has been proven to work but it will not be a silver bullet for solving Scotland's drugs crisis on its own

Justina Murray says decriminalisation has been proven to work but it will not be a silver bullet for solving Scotland's drugs crisis on its own

3

'We don't need to pilot drug decriminalisation, it just needs to happen'

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Douglas Ross out of step with global evidence on drug policy, charity warns

Naloxone nasal spray stickers on display. The drug can be used to save lives by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose

Naloxone nasal spray stickers on display. The drug can be used to save lives by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose

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'Westminster must let Scotland take action': Charities speak out on drugs deaths

The Scottish Government’s proposals include increased access to the life-saving drug naloxone, used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose

The Scottish Government’s proposals include increased access to the life-saving drug naloxone, used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose

3

There's no magic bullet, but the 'war on drugs' is causing untold harm

What message would drug decriminalisation send to potential new users?

What message would drug decriminalisation send to potential new users?

Portugal shows the problems with the decriminalisation of drugs

File photo dated 21/02/2020 of vaping liquid products on a shop shelf. There has been a 50% rise in the last year in the proportion of children trying vaping, new figures show. The data for Great Britain shows a rise in experimental vaping among 11 to

File photo dated 21/02/2020 of vaping liquid products on a shop shelf. There has been a 50% rise in the last year in the proportion of children trying vaping, new figures show. The data for Great Britain shows a rise in experimental vaping among 11 to

Disposable vapes

Parents must be aware of the myths of vaping believed by our children

The BBC's website reported that the Scottish Government wanted drug possession to be 'legal'

The BBC's website reported that the Scottish Government wanted drug possession to be 'legal'

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BBC took FOUR DAYS to correct glaring headline error despite complaint

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack attacked proposals to decriminalise drug possession

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack attacked proposals to decriminalise drug possession

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Drug decriminalisation calls a bid to 'manufacture grievance', Alister Jack claims

BBC Scotland has corrected an online article relating to the Scottish Government

BBC Scotland has corrected an online article relating to the Scottish Government

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BBC corrects story claiming Scottish Government 'want drug possession to be legal'

Safe consumption spaces, like this one in Berlin, are one of the drugs reforms which have been proposed

Safe consumption spaces, like this one in Berlin, are one of the drugs reforms which have been proposed

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Drugs reform plan would switch focus from punishment to compassion

Gordon Brown previously supported drugs powers being devolved to Holyrood

Gordon Brown previously supported drugs powers being devolved to Holyrood

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Gordon Brown backed devolution of drugs powers to Holyrood, previous comments show

From left: Scottish Tory MSPs Murdo Fraser, Douglas Ross, and Russell Findlay

From left: Scottish Tory MSPs Murdo Fraser, Douglas Ross, and Russell Findlay

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Scots Tories 'inflaming drugs debate with false information', top campaigner says

SNP MP Chris Stephens, right, and Tory minister Michael Gove, left, clashed in the House of Commons

SNP MP Chris Stephens, right, and Tory minister Michael Gove, left, clashed in the House of Commons

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SNP MP slams Tories for 'undermining' Scotland's drug decriminalisation plans

Could the Scottish Government work with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to achieve this outcome?

Could the Scottish Government work with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to achieve this outcome?

1

Decriminalisation of drug use can be implemented without law change

Experts say decriminalisation is a proven method of harm reduction, writes Steph Paton

Experts say decriminalisation is a proven method of harm reduction, writes Steph Paton

2

Experts are saying to decriminalise drugs – why won’t Rishi Sunak listen?

Hosie said that he believed decriminalisation would 'save lives

Hosie said that he believed decriminalisation would 'save lives

6

Decriminalisation of drugs possession would 'save lives', insists Dundee SNP MP

What legal options are open to the Scottish Government to tackle the drugs death crisis, asks Andrew Tickell

What legal options are open to the Scottish Government to tackle the drugs death crisis, asks Andrew Tickell

Angela Constance

Drugs policy is broken, but does Scotland have the power to change it?

The Scottish Government wants to decriminalise personal drug use

The Scottish Government wants to decriminalise personal drug use

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Scottish Government backs decriminalisation of personal drug use

Safe consumption rooms, pictured, cannot go ahead due to a refusal from the Home Office

Safe consumption rooms, pictured, cannot go ahead due to a refusal from the Home Office

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Trade unions to urge Labour to make manifesto commitment to devolving drug law

Phoenix Futures drug rehabilitation centres are to receive £11 million of government funding

Phoenix Futures drug rehabilitation centres are to receive £11 million of government funding

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Residential drug rehabs to receive £14 million of funding from Scottish Government

Glasgow City council is reportedly considering cuts to the social care budget

Glasgow City council is reportedly considering cuts to the social care budget

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Council funding row deepens over looming social care cuts and teacher numbers

Two men, one aged 21 and the other 25, have been arrested and charged

Two men, one aged 21 and the other 25, have been arrested and charged

Police recover £400,000 worth of drugs from house in Dundee

A Police Scotland officer carrying a Naloxone kit on their belt

A Police Scotland officer carrying a Naloxone kit on their belt

Drug overdose treatment saves lives 'even when police thought the person was dead'

Keir Starmer joked that 'I had a good time when I was younger' when asked if he'd ever tried drugs

Keir Starmer joked that 'I had a good time when I was younger' when asked if he'd ever tried drugs

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Drugs campaigner brands Keir Starmer a 'hypocrite' over 'demeaning' joke

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the opening of the new rehabilitation service

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the opening of the new rehabilitation service

Nicola Sturgeon opens 'innovative' rehab service for families impacted by drugs

Drugs minister Angela Constance has urged those who carry naloxone to check their packs incase of missing needles

Drugs minister Angela Constance has urged those who carry naloxone to check their packs incase of missing needles

Angela Constance

Drugs minister warns of missing needles in life-saving overdose kits

James McDade (right) with Scottish drugs policy minister Angela Constance

James McDade (right) with Scottish drugs policy minister Angela Constance

'This is heaven to me': Former addict on new drug rehabilitation centre

Families are struggling to access support for drug rehabilitation

Families are struggling to access support for drug rehabilitation

Scotland's addiction help needs ‘no wrong door’ policy, charity says

Drugs minister Angela Constance extended her “deepest sympathy” to those affected by drug deaths

Drugs minister Angela Constance extended her “deepest sympathy” to those affected by drug deaths

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Suspected drug deaths in first six months of year 22 per cent lower than last year

Sunak's remarks have been described as

Sunak's remarks have been described as

Tory leadership race

3

Rishi Sunak condemned for ‘callous and cruel’ drugs remarks

Former health minister Joe FitzPatrick put forward the current drug task force when he first took office back in 2018 – which urgently needs to be reevaluated. Photograph: Jamie Simpson

Former health minister Joe FitzPatrick put forward the current drug task force when he first took office back in 2018 – which urgently needs to be reevaluated. Photograph: Jamie Simpson

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This approach is cutting drug deaths in one English region – it could do the same here

SNP treating issue as ‘heavily politicised’ has hindered progress in tackling cause

SNP treating issue as ‘heavily politicised’ has hindered progress in tackling cause

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Politicisation of drugs death crisis has 'stalled progress', experts say

$Nicola Sturgeon has responded to the news that Scotland's drug deaths dropped by just a fraction of a percentage from 2020 to 2021$ $Nicola Sturgeon has responded to the news that Scotland's drug deaths dropped by just a fraction of a percentage from 2020 to 2021$

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Nicola Sturgeon speaks out as data lays bare 'unacceptable' drugs deaths crisis

A handout photo from Glasgow City Council showing a Naloxone kit – a drug used to help revive people who have had an overdose

A handout photo from Glasgow City Council showing a Naloxone kit – a drug used to help revive people who have had an overdose

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Drugs deaths figures show slight decline – but 2021 was second worst year ever

Angela Constance, Minister for Drug Policy. File photo.

Angela Constance, Minister for Drug Policy. File photo.

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When it comes to drugs, what does justice really look like?

David Strang, head of the Drug Deaths Taskforce has called new plans to crack down on minor drug use in England 'unhelpful'

David Strang, head of the Drug Deaths Taskforce has called new plans to crack down on minor drug use in England 'unhelpful'

Conservative Party

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UK crackdown on drug use slammed as Scotland reaches major milestone in crisis battle

File photograph of a person preparing to take heroin/Getty Images

File photograph of a person preparing to take heroin/Getty Images

Drugs deaths minister uses extraordinary powers in bid to tackle crisis