The Daily Record has successfully campaigned to help reduce the number of drug -related deaths in Scotland – spurring the Scottish Government to take action by increasing the number of rehab beds available to addicts.
In January, the First Minister announced a £250million war chest to fight the drugs crisis.
Police assessed there were 1346 suspected drug deaths in 2020 with a spike in December. That is 10 more than the 1336 it estimated the previous year, although that figure was lowered to 1264 in the official statistics for 2019 after delayed toxicology tests.
The funding, worth £50million a year, will kick in in April. It will include an annual £20million to offer residential rehab to every person who asks for it.
At the time of her announcement, Nicola Sturgeon said: “There is no doubt that the Daily Record’s commitment to tackling drug deaths in our communities has helped inform the debate.”
