The latest suspected drug deaths figures in Ayrshire are “deeply concerning”.
New statistics revealed that 295 deaths were suspected to have been lost to drugs between October and December last year.
In Ayrshire, there were 26 suspected deaths in the final three months of 2022. That was an increase of six on the previous quarter.
These figures only reaffirm the need for the SNP-Green government to finally back the Scottish Conservatives’ Right to Recovery Bill.
It has been backed by frontline experts and would guarantee access to treatment for everyone in Ayrshire who needs it.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Sharon Dowey said:
“The rise in suspected drug deaths in the most recent quarter in Ayrshire is deeply concerning.
“We know that the fatality rate in Scotland is still by far the worst in Europe. Not only is this a national shame, it’s also one of the worst legacies of Nicola Sturgeon’s time in office.
“As Nicola Sturgeon admitted herself, she took her eye off the ball on drug deaths. Now, lives lost to drugs in Ayrshire are on the increase once again.
“Under new leadership, it doesn’t look like much will change. While we’ve heard plenty about the constitution in the SNP leadership contest, the drug death crisis has barely had a mention from the three candidates.
“That’s why I’m calling on the next First Minister, whoever it turns out to be, to give their full backing to the Scottish Conservative’s Right to Recovery Bill.
“This has been backed by experts in the field of addiction and would guarantee access to treatment for everyone who needs it in Ayrshire.”
