Suspected Scots drug deaths soar by a THIRD despite SNP's boasts of ‘game-changing' legal fix room

This was a 33 per cent increase in deaths, or 76 more than the previous quarter
'NATIONAL CRISIS' Suspected Scots drug deaths soar by a THIRD despite SNP's boasts of 'game-changing' legal fix room
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SUSPECTED drug-related deaths in Scotland spiked by a third in the first months of this year.
Worrying new Scottish Government stats show there were 308 fatalities between January and March, believed to be linked to narcotics.
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The increased deaths come nearly six months after The Thistle safe drug consumption facility opened
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Piles of used needles were piled on Tobago Street near the fix room
Credit: Les Gallagher
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A JCB was called in to clean up drug debris and mess from fly-tipping
Credit: Les Gallagher
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The Thistle has caused outrage among local residents
Credit: Les Gallagher
This was a 33 per cent increase in deaths, or 76 more than the previous quarter.
The Scottish Government has said suspected drug fatalities "continue to remain at a high level".
Among the 308 deaths, 244 were males - 44 per cent more than during the previous quarter and four per cent more than during the same period last year.
There were 64 female fatalities between January and March, two per cent more than was recorded between October and December last year.
There were also nine suspected drug deaths among people aged under 25, 80 per cent more than during the previous quarter.
Opposition politicians have branded the latest statistics "devastating" and accused the SNP of "clearly failing" to address drug deaths.
And the increased deaths come nearly six months after The Thistle safe drug consumption facility opened its doors in Glasgow.
We told just a few days ago how council chiefs were forced to call in a JCB to scoop up drug debris near the 'fix' room.
Piles of used needles were piled on Tobago Street in the city's Calton, near the controversial facility heralded by local authority bosses.
The majority of suspected drug deaths were among people aged between 35 and 54.
Nursery staff sift sandpits for needles as activist finds 50 in a minute near drug fix room
The Scottish Government said this is "broadly in line" with previous quarters.
Geographically, Greater Glasgow had 61 suspected drug deaths, followed by Ayrshire with 36 and Lanarkshire with 33.
Scottish Conservative shadow minister for drugs, Annie Wells MSP, said: 'These devastating figures should be a source of shame for deluded SNP ministers, whose strategy to tackle drug deaths is clearly failing.
'They are completely detached from the reality of this national crisis, which has spiralled to record levels on their watch.
'Nationalist politicians have been at pains to trumpet the opening of The Thistle in Glasgow as a game-changing solution, yet the number of Scots suspected to have tragically lost their lives to drugs has risen sharply since it opened.
'It is clear that facility is feeding addiction, rather than helping to treat addiction. The public will be appalled that Neil Gray thinks more consumption rooms should get the green light while this flagship one is failing people so badly.
'The SNP need to drop their failed approach and finally back the Right to Recovery Bill which guarantees treatment for all those who need it.'
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: 'Every death is a tragedy and through our £250 million National Mission we are determined to continue our efforts to reduce harm and deaths. My condolences go to anyone who has lost a loved one.
'While these figures show a quarter-on-quarter rise in suspected drug deaths, they also note a year-on-year fall. We want every person experiencing harm to be able to access the support they need.
'We are taking a wide range of evidence-based measures including opening the UK's first Safer Drug Consumption Facility pilot, working towards drug-checking facilities and widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone.'

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