Urgent warning over deadly designer opiates as Scots drug death toll rises AGAIN
SCOTLAND'S SHAME Urgent warning over deadly designer opiates as Scots drug death toll rises AGAIN
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POLICE and ministers have been urged to do more to crack down on drugs gangs following a surge in deaths linked to heroin and pills cut with deadly designer opiates.
There were 312 suspected substance-related deaths in three months to May 25 - among the deadliest quarters in a decade.
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Deaths were linked to substances cut with nitazines
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Annie Wells said the increase shows the SNP are "failing to tackle the drug deaths epidemic"
Public Health Scotland said they were linked to substances cut with nitazines, a synthetic opioid deadlier than fentanyl and which has decimated communities in the US.
Louise Stewart, director at recovery charity WithYou, said: 'The Scottish Government must take urgent and targeted action to respond to the growing threat of synthetic substances.
'This should include introducing drug checking services in communities, increasing access to same day opioid substitution therapy, further expanding naloxone programmes, and making safer drug consumption facilities, like The Thistle, available across the country.'
Fatalities have increased since the Scottish Government published its 'national mission to reduce deaths' in August 2022, and despite the opening of the so-called fix room in Glasgow, The Thistle.
Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: 'The SNP government must work with Police Scotland, local authorities and health boards to ensure that those making money out of this misery are held to account, while their victims have the best possible chance of recovery.'
THE SCOTTISH SUN SAYS: No end to woe
TWO years ago the SNP government Drugs Minister claimed they were "turning the tide" on the drug deaths crisis.
It was a stupid boast at the time - and it looks utterly idiotic now.
Latest stats show 312 suspected drug deaths between March and May, up significantly on the previous quarter and the same period last year.
We are heading back to the territory of the worst rates on record.
But SNP ministers are repeating the same old nonsense about how they're tackling the issue, while plugging their fix room in Glasgow.
Well, the strategy isn't working. It hasn't been for decades now.
And while politicians trot out soundbites, people are still paying with their lives.
Scottish Conservative drugs spokeswoman Annie Wells said the increase 'lays bare just how appallingly the SNP are failing to tackle the drugs deaths epidemic they've presided over'.
The Scottish Government insists that drug consumption rooms, which allow addicts to inject heroin under medical supervision with clean needles, would cut deaths.
But opposition parties said the rise in deaths demonstrated they're 'not a silver bullet' and must not be a substitute for a proper drug strategy.
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: 'I am determined to do more to tackle drug harms and that is why we are providing record levels of funding for drugs and alcohol programmes, including widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone.
'We are also working at pace to deliver drug-checking facilities and we opened the UK's first safer drug consumption facility which is saving lives.'
Drug fix rooms could be rolled out across Scotland before end of controversial Glasgow pilot
Police Scotland urged the public to shop their local drug dealers as part of efforts to curb deaths.
Superintendent Joanne McEwan said: 'The illegal consumption of drugs has a devastating impact on our communities, and we have the deepest sympathy for the families involved.
'Police Scotland works in partnership with a wide range of national and international partners and law enforcement agencies to monitor trends, emerging threats and share intelligence to help address the number of recorded drug deaths in Scotland. We support ongoing initiatives which aim to reduce the harm associated with problematic drug use.'
'Officers from local policing and specialist divisions work tirelessly to remove illegal drugs from communities every day and remain committed to disrupting the activities of those organised criminals who supply drugs and continue their work to ensure Scotland is a hostile environment for them to operate.
'We can't tackle this issue alone and would urge the public to continue supporting us in building intelligence about the possession and supply of drugs by contacting Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'
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