833 suspected drug deaths in just 9 months

Responding to Police Scotland figures showing that there were 833 suspected drug deaths between January and September 2024, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“Almost 100 people a month are dying in Scotland’s drug deaths emergency. It’s far worse than anywhere else in Europe.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see new drug checking facilities, a nationwide network of safer consumption rooms and people misusing drugs given treatment instead of prison.

“We need to do everything possible to stop people dying and prevent more families suffering the tragic loss of a loved one through drugs.”