Neil Gray insists ScotGov 'on right course' to tackle drug deaths

A total of 1,172 people died of drug misuse in 2023, an increase of 121 from the previous year’s number of 1,051 which was the lowest figure since 2017.

The figures also showed that people in the most deprived areas of Scotland are more than 15 times as likely to die from drug misuse compared to people in the least deprived areas, as Glasgow and Dundee saw the highest rate of deaths.

The number of drug deaths in Glasgow soared by 25% in a year, with 246 deaths recorded. East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire had the lowest rates.

Reacting to the figures Neil Gray, who is standing in for Christina McKelvie after she received a second cancer diagnosis this week, said that the new stats were a ‘huge concern’ and described the situation as ‘tragic’.

However, while speaking to Scotland’s national press during a visit to the Skylark IX Recovery Project in Dumbarton, Mr Gray insisted that the government’s approach to tackling the death rates remains the correct one.

He said: “I believe we are on the right course regarding the interventions we are making. I think that is supported by international evidence. I think it is supported by those with lived experience, both those who have recovered from drug dependency and their families which is what I have heard directly today.

“I believe that the continued investment that we are making within the national mission on a multi-faceted approach; residential rehab expansion, support for community programmes like the Skylark Project, and the rollout of life-saving naloxone as well as interventions that are still to come through negotiation with the UK Government such as the safe consumption rooms, all of which are, and will continue, making a real difference.”

The new NRS data shows that Scotland continues to have a far higher rate of recorded drug deaths than the rest of Europe. The death rates are also 2.7 times higher than England and Northern Ireland.

To compare Scotland with Europe, the countries with the nearest drug death rates are Estonia and Norway with 95 and 86 deaths per million people respectively.

When the data was first recorded in 1996, there were only 244 drug-related deaths.

It was not an easy task for Mr Gray on Tuesday, facing the nation’s broadcast media who time and time again begged him to give figures on the number of residential rehab beds that are currently available, or the number of people suspected of being dependent on drugs in Scotland. However, despite the repeated questions he could not answer.

This year’s statistics also revealed that opiates and opioids, including heroin, morphine, and methadone were implicated in 80% of all deaths.

When ITV News’ Peter Smith told Mr Gray that people attempting to access rehab were being put on methadone programmes, he said that ‘it wasn’t the case’. But only seconds later the journalist provided him with evidence of Stacey who lives in Shettleston, who had been attempting to access rehab for her cocaine addiction only to be given methadone. Cocaine overdoses leading to deaths rose from 371 in 2022, to 479 in 2023.

However, the Minister refused to admit that the Scottish Government was over-reliant on methadone.

READ MORE: 

• Scottish drug deaths see significant hike as most deprived areas still most affected
• Families of those lost to drug abuse say they were 'dismissed and stigmatised'
• 'He became quite a Jekyll and Hyde': One mother's experience of a son with addictions

Last year, then Drugs Minister Elena Whitham said that the ‘tide was turning’ on Scotland’s drug deaths after the first decline in 5 years. However, the new stats also show that deaths were still 4.2 times higher in 2023 than in 2000, putting that statement in doubt.

When asked by The Herald, what had gone wrong, Neil Gray continued to say the approach was still showing signs of promise and that we shouldn’t forget that these figures are the ‘second best’ we’ve seen since 2017.

He replied: “We also said last year that we wouldn’t become complacent and that our commitment to the national mission was absolutely clear. The trajectory over the last number of years has been to see an improvement, and this year is the second best if you look at the last six years.”

“So, we’re still on a trajectory where I hope we can still see continued improvement. But I know we are still talking about people’s lives, and I don’t want to take away from that. Over 1100 deaths being attributed to drug dependency is a tragic situation and one that we are not complacent to, and we remain committed. Today’s figures only serve to illustrate why it is essential that we continue on the path we’re on to see an improvement.”

The optimistic thinking has not gone down well with opposition parties in Scotland. Outgoing Scottish Tory Leader Douglas Ross blasted the figures as ‘shocking and shameful’.

He said: “The SNP’s approach is simply not working. Several years ago, Nicola Sturgeon admitted she took her eye off the ball on tackling this emergency, but deaths have continued to increase since then.

“That legacy is still causing huge harm in our most deprived areas.

 “These awful statistics highlight yet again the urgent need for John Swinney and the SNP Government to finally give their backing to the Right to Recovery Bill.  I will be making that point with him when we meet next month to discuss the Bill.  

 “If passed it would enshrine in law a right to treatment for all those who need it, including residential rehab, and was written in conjunction with leading experts and has widespread support.”