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A cross-party group of MPs has accused the UK authorities of the virtually “wholesale rejection” of strikes to sort out Scotland’s file drug deaths.
It comes after the Scottish Affairs Committee revealed a report in November calling for a radical re-think of present medication coverage.
Their suggestions included decriminalising medication for private use and backing consumption rooms.
Nevertheless, the UK authorities has rejected many of the suggestions.
They embody calls to declare Scotland’s file drug deaths – 1,187 in 2018 – a public well being emergency.
The UK authorities additionally stated a suggestion to reform the 1971 Misuse of Medication Act and decriminalise medication for private use wouldn’t “remove the crime dedicated by the illicit commerce, nor wouldn’t it handle the harms related to drug dependence”.
They added: “There’s a sturdy hyperlink between medication and crime, which is why we reject the assertion that the Division for Well being and Social Care ought to lead on drug misuse. We all know that individuals who recurrently use heroin, cocaine or crack cocaine are estimated to commit round 45% of all acquisitive crime.”
Since 2008 the Scottish authorities has handled drug misuse as a well being situation relatively than a prison justice situation.
Peter Krykant stated he hoped the drug consumption van would reduce down on overdoses
On the thought of consumption rooms, the UK authorities responded that: “We wish to do all we will to cease folks accessing medication that would in the end kill them. No unlawful drug-taking will be assumed to be protected and there’s no protected solution to take them.”
They added: “Our strategy on medication stays clear – we should forestall drug use in our communities, assist folks via remedy and restoration, and sort out the availability of unlawful medication.”
What are protected drug consumption services?
Glasgow Metropolis Council has proposed permitting customers to take their very own medication underneath the supervision of medical employees at a particular facility within the metropolis, however the thought has been blocked by the Residence Workplace.
Generally dubbed “repair rooms”, the intention can be to encourage customers who inject heroin or cocaine on Glasgow’s streets to enter a protected and clear setting.
It was hoped the scheme would encourage addicts into remedy, reduce down on heroin needles on metropolis streets and counter the unfold of illnesses equivalent to HIV.
Final week, a recovering heroin addict launched a drug consumption van in Glasgow regardless of warnings it might break the regulation.
Peter Krykant stated he hoped it might forestall overdoses and blood-borne viruses amongst drug customers.
The cross-party committee, which is chaired by SNP MP Pete Wishart, consists of 4 Conservatives, three Labour members, two Lib Dems and two different SNP MPs.
The committee known as for Scotland’s medication disaster to be tackled as a public well being situation
Mr Wishart stated the committee’s report was primarily based on some of the “intensive medication inquiries in Scotland ever carried out”.
Nevertheless, following the federal government’s response to the report, he stated: “We’re stunned and upset by the federal government’s virtually wholesale rejection of suggestions by a Westminster Choose Committee after gathering a considerable physique of proof from folks with lived expertise, charities and teachers, in addition to authorized, prison justice and well being professionals…few of those will discover consolation on this response.”
He additionally accused the federal government of offering little proof to assist its stance and known as for what proof there was to be made accessible forward of a drug summit in February.
He added: “What is obvious is there’s little change within the authorities’s medication technique regardless of the demise fee in Scotland from downside drug use remaining stubbornly increased than any nation in Europe.
“This reality itself ought to show that the present strategy is not working. That is undoubtedly a public well being emergency.”
All UK medication misuse laws is at the moment reserved to Westminster.
A spokesman for the Residence Workplace stated it was dedicated to stopping drug use, supporting folks via remedy and restoration and tackling the availability of unlawful medication.
“We now have no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms or decriminalise medication. Unlawful medication devastate lives and communities, and sellers ought to face the total penalties of the regulation,” he added.
“We’re dedicated to tackling drug misuse and held a UK-wide medication summit in Glasgow earlier this yr to debate essentially the most impact methods to sort out drug misuse and their horrible impression throughout Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Eire.”
What can the Scottish authorities do?
The Scottish authorities has stated it welcomes assist for the introduction of a protected medication consumption room in Glasgow as a part of efforts to cut back deaths there.
A spokeswoman stated when the report was revealed in November: “The outdated Misuse of Medication Act 1971 ought to be amended to permit us to implement a variety of public well being centered responses, together with the introduction of protected consumption services in Glasgow.
“We name on the incoming UK authorities to amend the Act or to devolve these powers to Scotland.”