Overdose Awareness Day: Vigils to be held across Scotland
The drugs policy minister has said she is "determined that every penny" of the £250 million to be spent on Scotland's drugs crisis during the Parliament's term "will make a difference".
Last updated 31st Aug 2022
A vigil will be held in Glasgow tonight remembering the 1,330 people who died of overdose last year as campaigners call on the Scottish Government to step up its action to address the drugs deaths crisis.
Despite falling for the first time since 2013 - by 9 - the figure is the second-highest annual total on record.
Scotland still has by far the highest rate of drug deaths compared to the rest of the United Kingdom or anywhere else in Europe.
Annemarie Ward from charity FAVOR told Forth 1 News:
"Until things change we're going to continue on the merry-go-round. Experts are making many recommendations but nothing is changing.
"We've seen a 12% increase in deaths since the formation of the Drugs Taskforce. The report was full of recommendations but it constantly kicks the issue into the long grass.
“The government is now spending more money on tackling addiction than they were a few years ago but the system in Scotland is still broken. People who want to get off drugs can’t get access to rehabilitation.
"They’re being denied the treatment that could keep them alive.
"We have exactly the same laws as England and have almost five times the number of deaths, so I want the Scottish public to question that, the question why our treatment system is not fit for purpose."
£250m will make a difference says minister
The drugs policy minister has said she is "determined that every penny" of the £250 million to be spent on Scotland's drugs crisis during the Parliament's term "will make a difference".
Ms Constance said: "On International Overdose Awareness Day, I want to pass on my sincere condolences to all those who have been affected by a drug death.
"The number of deaths in Scotland is heartbreaking and I am determined that every penny of the £250 million we will spend on the crisis over the course of this Parliament will make a difference.
"We're putting the voices of lived experience at the heart of the National Mission to reduce drug-related deaths.
"We'll continue to listen to those views and draw on evidence from around the world as we tackle this emergency - taking action and delivering new investment to get more people into the treatment and recovery which works for them.
Naloxone awareness
The drugs policy minister added: "To coincide with International Overdose Awareness Day last year we launched an awareness campaign with Scottish Drugs Forum on recognising symptoms of overdose and raising awareness of Naloxone - medication which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose - offering online training and the chance to order a kit.
"Naloxone is an important tool in an emergency - we do, of course, want to reach people before it comes to that - but an evaluation shows the 12-week campaign led to 3,141 more people carrying Naloxone and I encourage more people to do the same by signing up at the StopTheDeaths website.
"By doing so you could save a life."