SCOTTISH GOVT WANTS DRUG POSSESSION TO BE LEGAL TO TACKLE EUROPE’S WORST NARCOTICS RELATED DEATH RATE

Sat 08 July 2023:

Scotland announced plans on Friday to decriminalise the possession of all drugs for personal use, with the goal of addressing the worrying drug fatality rate, which is now the highest in Europe.

According to Reuters, the Scottish devolved government stressed that these measures should be imposed by the British government in London, which has the authority to control drug-related concerns within the UK’s democratic system.

The proposed policy change aims to shift the approach from criminalisation to treatment and support for individuals struggling with drug addiction.

By decriminalising drug possession, Scotland hopes to provide these individuals with the necessary assistance and increase their chances of finding employment during the recovery process.

Elena Whitham, Scotland’s Minister for Drugs Policy, acknowledged that the proposals would spark debate but highlighted their alignment with the government’s public health approach.

“While we know these proposals will spark debate, they are in line with our public health approach and would further our national mission to improve and save lives,” said Whitham, in a statement.

“We are working hard within the powers we have to reduce drug deaths, and while there is more we need to do, our approach is simply at odds with the Westminster legislation we must operate within,” she added.

Scotland’s drug death rate remains a grave concern, with 327 deaths per million population in 2020. This figure significantly surpasses the next highest rate in Norway, which stood at 85, according to official statistics.

The number of people who died of drug misuse in Scotland dropped slightly last year from 1,339 to 1,330 after eight consecutive years of increases, but the country continues to have by far the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in Europe.

The crisis prompted more than £250m of investment by the Scottish government into the country’s addiction services.

Efforts to establish drug consumption rooms in Scotland have been ongoing for years.

Campaigners say the facilities – where people can inject drugs under supervision – are needed and are backed by the Scottish government.

As per Reuters, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismissed the possibility of any policy change, affirming the government’s commitment to maintaining its tough stance on drugs.

“There are no plans to alter our tough stance on drugs,” said the spokesperson.

The ruling Scottish National Party, which supports Scottish independence, has clashed with the British government over other difficult matters, such as a proposed gender recognition reform law.

While drug possession is illegal in many areas of the world, numerous countries, like Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Czechia, have already decriminalized certain forms of drug possession.

Health experts suggest that such measures would allow addicts to be treated as patients rather than criminals, highlighting the significance of a public health-oriented approach.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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