MSP slams 'deeply alarming' rise in north-east drugs deaths
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A NORTH-east MSP has slammed the "deeply alarming" and "heart-breaking" rise in drugs deaths across the region.
Almost 20 more deaths to illicit substances compared to the same period last year, according to new figures released by the Scottish Government, which also show 75 people died in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray up to the end of September.
The figure is an increase on the same period last year when 56 people were killed in the north-east from taking illicit substances.
In just three months between July and September, 29 people died from drugs across the region.
The death toll for the north-east this year is the fourth highest in Scotland behind Glasgow, Edinburgh and Lanarkshire.
Scottish Conservative deputy health spokesperson and North East MSP Tess White says the drugs-death epidemic is Scotland’s national shame.
She went on to state that the figures only reaffirm the need for the SNP-Green government to finally back the Scottish Conservatives’ Right to Recovery Bill which, she says, has support from frontline experts and would guarantee access to treatment for everyone across the north-east who needs it.
She said: “These catastrophic and heartbreaking figures indicate that the SNP are no closer to solving the drugs death epidemic that has spiralled on their watch.
“The rise in fatalities across the north-east this year is deeply alarming – and every single death is a tragedy for the victim’s loved ones.
“SNP ministers, having shamefully taken their eye off the ball, remain unable to get a grip on this national emergency and seem to be pinning all their hopes on consumption rooms as the solution.
“Instead, they should be focused on improving access to treatment and rehab programmes for those with addiction problems.
“Humza Yousaf and Co need to stop dithering and finally back the Right to Recovery Bill, which has the backing of experts and would enshrine in law the right of everyone to receive the potentially life-saving treatment they need.”
