Thursday, 2 October 2025

25th Meeting, 2025

Start time: 09:00am
End time: 11:34am
Location: T4.40 CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
Published: Thursday, 2 October 2025
Committee Member Attendees:

• Audrey Nicoll (Convener)
• Sharon Dowey

• Patrick Harvie

• Clare Haughey
• Michael Marra
• Pauline McNeill
• Alexander Stewart
• Paul Sweeney
• Annie Wells (Committee Substitute)
• Elena Whitham

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committees agreed to take item 3 in private.

2. Reducing drug deaths in Scotland and tackling problem drug use:

The Committees took evidence from—

Dr Saket Priyadarshi, Associate Medical Director and Senior Medical Officer, Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services

Kelda Gaffney, Interim Assistant Chief Officer, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership

Tricia Fort, Chair, Calton Community Council

Steve Baxter, Corporate Security and Investigations Manager, Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited

and then from—

Maree Todd, Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport

Maggie Page, Unit Head for Drugs Strategy, Scottish Government

Dr Tara Shivaji, Consultant in Public Health Medicine - Drugs, Alcohol, Public Health Scotland

Michael Marra declared an interest as the previous Deputy Director of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, University of Dundee.

3. Reducing drug deaths in Scotland and tackling problem drug use (In Private):

The Committees reviewed the evidence heard earlier in the meeting and agreed their approach for the legacy report. The Committees agreed to schedule a further joint meeting before the end of session.