Scottish drug deaths taskforce meets for first time

A government taskforce set up to tackle the rising number of drug deaths in Scotland has met for the first time.

Drug-related deaths soared to 1,187 in 2017, the highest rate since records began in 1996.

Scotland's public health minister Joe FitzPatrick has said "radical steps" are needed to address the "emergency".

He hosted the first meeting of the Drugs Deaths Taskforce in Edinburgh, which is being chaired by Prof Catriona Matheson.

Mr FitzPatrick set up the expert group to examine the factors behind the deaths and advise on action - despite drugs policy being reserved to Westminster.

Three additional members have now been appointed, all of whom have experience of drug use.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: "We had good, constructive discussions around this public health emergency today and the ways in which we might tackle it.

"We know there is no easy solution and driving down the shocking statistics on drug deaths we saw this year will be challenging and will take time.

"We all, however, recognise the need for urgent and immediate action."

The minister added: "We will draw on the experience and expertise of the taskforce members and those with lived experience to shape how services in Scotland could save lives.

"Building on increases in funding in recent years, we're investing a further £20m over the next two years to help deliver the proposals which come forward."

Prof Matheson, of the University of Stirling, previously told BBC Scotland the evidence for decriminalisation was strong.

After presentations from various experts at the first meeting, she said: "Going forward, as we seek to address the considerable challenge of drug-related deaths, I am reassured by the total commitment shown to make progress."

The professor, who is a trustee of the Society for the Study of Addiction and convener of the Drugs Research Network Scotland, added: "This is a highly complex matter that needs to be addressed from a number of angles.

"I am confident that we will be able to take action that can make a difference. I look forward to progressing this work over the coming months."

Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie said: "Scotland is in the grip of a drugs deaths crisis, yet it has taken more than six months for the government to get its taskforce up and running, during which time there will have been around 600 drug-related deaths.

"The minister needs to redouble his efforts and demonstrate that the government is capable of delivering an emergency response to this ongoing human catastrophe."