Nicola Sturgeon has admitted her Government has failed on drugs policy following a record number of deaths.
The First Minister conceded her administration had not matched the response of grassroots organisations and said she had an “open mind” on legislation.
Figures published in December showed a record number of deaths from drug misuse - 1,264 - for the sixth year in a row.
This newspaper has an ongoing campaign to tackle the crisis, including a call for the decriminalisation of drugs.
Sturgeon responded to the shocking stats by replacing Joe FitzPatrick with Angela Constance as the relevant Minister, as well as announcing a funding injection.
Constance will provide an update to MSPs later today.
At First Minister’s Questions, Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross said the Government’s response was not “game changing”.
He called for treatment for users to be put on a “legal footing” and urged Sturgeon to back his party’s “right to recovery” bill.
She replied: “Our response hasn’t matched the response of those at the grassroots, so I am trying genuinely to engage in this.”
On Tory plans for a Bill, she said: “I think I said at the outset of this term of Parliament that we would look in detail at that.”
She added that her mind was not “closed” on legislation, but cautioned that passing a law can take time.
Asked how much longer it would take the Government to pursue “real action”, she said:
“We have failed in aspects of drugs policy and I am determined to get that right.
“I will look with an open mind at any proposals that are brought forward, including proposals for legislation.”
The SNP has been critical of the Tory Government for failing to support plans for safe consumption facilities, which would allow users to take drugs safely.
