SNP Government told to take 'responsibility' for drugs death 'shame' by Ian Murray

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray
-Credit: (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)


Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has urged the SNP Government to take responsibility and “get on with” cutting the number of drug deaths. The Labour Cabinet Minister said everyone has a role to play in tackling the tragedy but said health is a matter devolved to Holyrood.

SNP Ministers are expected to make a statement today on Scotland continuing to have the highest rate of drug deaths in western Europe. Figures showed an increase of 121 deaths between 2022 and 2023 – with the most recent number sitting at 1,172.

Other stats showed almost 600 suspected drug deaths were logged by Police Scotland in the first six months of this year. Alan Gemmell, the newly elected Labour MP for Central Ayrshire, said at the weekend the UK Government could circumvent Holyrood by funding rehab directly.

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Speaking to Record, Murray did not endorse this plan and put the onus onto the Scottish Government. He said: “The reason that Scotland has three times higher drug deaths than the rest of the UK is multifaceted.

"So it's poverty, it's lack of opportunity, it's lack of health services, it's the legal framework. So it's all of that. We've all got a role to play in making sure that we can reduce all of those kinds of issues, which in turn would help society.”

He added: “The Scottish government has responsibility for health and rehabilitation and therefore they have to take responsibility for putting in place what needs to be done. We've got an anti-poverty remit in terms of the Scotland Office that we want to do together.

“Of course all of that means looking at what we can do to help. Most of it will be driven by economic growth, obviously. This is a national shame and a national tragedy and the Scottish government need to get on with it.”

The Record has a long running campaign to cut drug deaths and has called for decriminalisation to be one of the solutions.

Speaking ahead of the Government statement today , Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “The rise in drug deaths is devastating and deserves proper parliamentary scrutiny.

“Over the last decade, drug deaths in Scotland have more than doubled. We face a crisis that remains the worst in Europe.

“The Scottish Government need to explain why earlier this year they saw fit to freeze the funding for drug and alcohol policy – a real-terms cut to the budget for critical services.

“I worry that those services could suffer further cuts which would seriously undermine their ability to support all those who need it.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Through our devolved powers we already have a clear evidence-based plan that aligns our investment with delivery of services to reduce deaths and improve lives.

“What is still missing is legislation that complements this approach, that cares about the people behind the statistics, and treats drug dependency as the health condition it is, and in doing so, achieves equity with the treatment of other health conditions.

"We therefore call on the UK Government to change the legal framework within which Scotland responds to its drug deaths crisis and urgently reform the Misuse of Drugs Act, to enable us to appropriately tailor policy decisions to our unique challenges.”

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