A councillor is calling for safe rooms where addicts can take drugs under supervision.
Councillor Louise McPhater wants to declare a drugs death emergency in North Ayrshire.
There were 38 drug related deaths in the area last year - up from 25 in 2017.
The Irvine Labour councillor has put forward a motion to the council calling for the devolution of drug powers.
Councillor McPhater wants the possession of drugs to be decriminalised. She also would like to see approved drug consumption rooms set up.
Her motion said: “Data published in 2018 showed that Scotland has the highest level of drug related deaths across Europe, here in North Ayrshire the level of drug related deaths are above the Scottish average.”
The motion urged North Ayrshire Council to “declare a drugs death emergency and requests the Health and Social Care Partnership to convene a drugs death summit of Community Planning Partners to consider multi-disciplinary local drug policy, funding and service improvements.”
The motion, backed by Councillor Robert Foster, wants council chief executive Craig Hatton to write to the Scottish Government asking for more funding for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships.
It said Mr Hatton should "strongly urge the Scottish Government to declare drug related deaths as a public health emergency in Scotland."
The motion asks Mr Hatton to write to the Home Secretary seeking the devolution of drug powers to Scotland.
It said the “decriminalisation of drug possession” has been “ hugely successful in countries such as Portugal.”
Councillors will consider the motion this week at North Ayrshire Council headquarters in Irvine.
