The Scottish Government has been accused of cutting crucial funding for drug and alcohol treatment programmes despite a shocking rise in fatalities.
Drug related deaths have almost doubled in eight years to become the highest in Europe – up from 545 in 2009 to 934 in 2017.
But figures obtained by Labour show Scottish Government spending on Drug and Alcohol Partnerships (ADPs) – which commissions treatment services – has been cut in real terns by 6.3 per cent since 2015. When inflation is taken into account, spending on ADPs has dropped from £75.6million in 2014/15 to £70.8million in 2019/20.
Shadow Health Secretary Monica Lennon MSP said: “It is unbelievable that in the middle of Scotland’s drug and alcohol crisis the SNP Government has cut funding to vital support networks. They should be investing in ADP funding, not slashing support to those who badly need help.”
Auditor General for Scotland Caroline Gardner said: “Without clear performance data around what measures are working, the Government will continue to find it hard to achieve its aim of reducing deaths.”
The Scottish Government didn’t respond to requests for comment.
