Question reference: S5O-00120
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 31 August 2016
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 8 September 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent figures suggesting that the number of drug-related deaths is at a record level, what action it is taking to tackle drug dependency.
Answer
Each and every one of the drug related deaths in Scotland is tragic. We are continuing to tackle the devastating impact that drugs have for individuals, families and communities, and making recovery a reality, through our national drugs strategy, the Road to Recovery. The Scottish Government is continuing to invest significant resources to support this strategy and to tackle problem alcohol and drug use, having provided £630 million since 2008.
Whilst drug taking among the general population is falling and the number of young people taking drugs is at the lowest in a decade, we remain determined to tackle problem use. With our partners, we are engaged in a range of activities to reduce the harm caused by problem drug use, both in understanding the problem, supporting innovation in services and examining alternative approaches.