Nicola Sturgeon is being urged to officially designate Scotland’s drug death crisis a “public health emergency”, the Record can reveal.
Labour made the demand as part of a Holyrood motion calling for a cross-party debate on the issue when MSPs return from the summer break.
The party believe the measure would allow the Government to urgently direct public bodies – including councils, the police and health boards – to take action to prevent further loss of life.
They say the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) provides the legal framework for their request.
The legislation outlines ways to deal with national emergencies, which it defines as events or situations that threaten serious damage to human welfare or loss of life.
The Record has been investigating Scotland’s drug crisis for months and is calling for a change in the law so possession can be decriminalised.
Shock figures last month showed Scotland’s annual drug deaths have soared to be the worst recorded for any nation in the entire world. The total of 1187 deaths was up by 27 per cent on last year’s record total.
Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “The drugs crisis is threatening the welfare and the lives of thousands of Scots and has been already been described as a public health emergency by the Scottish Government. But this crisis needs more than words – it needs action.
“We’re more than half way through 2019 and our national response is inadequate.
“The Ministerial drug death taskforce was announced in March and it still hasn’t met.
“The Scottish Parliament is in recess but the drugs crisis isn’t resting.”
