SNP MP Alison Thewliss has criticised the UK Government over its position on drug consumption facilities after new figures revealed the scale of Scotland's drug deaths.
The new data, published by National Records of Scotland, revealed that 1187 drug-related deaths were registered in Scotland in 2018, compared with 937 in 2017 – an increase of 27% and the highest number ever recorded.
Thewliss, who has campaigned for a Supervised Drug Consumption Facility to be opened in her Glasgow constituency, hit out at the Home office over its refusal to grant the legal exemptions to allow one to operate.
Thewliss MP said: "These latest figures are heart-breaking, and clearly show what Scotland faces in terms of drug deaths is an emergency.
"The uptick in drug deaths from 2017 to 2018 is unprecedented, and validates the work that has been done by Glasgow Health & Social Care Partnership (GHSCP) in planning for a SDCF – as part of a wider programme of measures – to tackle the problem. That the Home Office have refused to entertain these plans, or to even meet with me to have a discussion about the issue, is utterly shameful. Their blind commitment to outdated ideology over saving lives is unforgivable.
"How many people need to die before Tory Ministers will finally admit there is a problem? Their obstinance has a human cost, and never before has it been so pronounced.
"Decision-makers need to get out from behind their desks at Westminster and come to Glasgow to see the scale of this escalating problem. The UK Government's position is absurd, especially when you consider that there is cross-party support for plans at Westminster, Holyrood, and Glasgow City Council, where plans were passed unanimously.
“A safer consumption facility is not a magic bullet, and wider action is needed to ensure the public health approach that Scotland wants to take is embedded in all services. I welcome that the Drug Death taskforce chaired by Prof Catriona Matheson will promote what works, however challenging that may be. But if the UK Government continues to ignore the evidence then the taskforce will be fighting with one hand tied behind their back.
"Today's figures should be a clarion call to the UK Government – lives are being needlessly lost in Glasgow and Scotland, please help us save them.”
READ MORE: UK Govt should hand Scotland powers to tackle drug problem
The Scottish Government has been calling on the UK Government for a long time to hand drug powers over to Holyrood to help curb the rising number of death-related deaths.
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