SNP’s drug law reforms get support from UK MPs
The SNP’s proposals to reform the UK’s drug laws have received backing from a cross-party committee of MPs, who urged the UK government to devolve drug policy to Scotland or amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The SNP has been calling for a public health approach to drug misuse, which would include the establishment of safe drug consumption rooms, decriminalisation of possession for personal use, and increased funding for treatment and recovery services.
The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee, chaired by SNP MP Pete Wishart, published a report on Tuesday that endorsed the SNP’s recommendations and criticised the UK government’s “inaction” on the drug crisis. The report said that the UK government’s current approach was “not working” and that Scotland needed “the flexibility to respond effectively to the unique circumstances of its drug crisis”.
The report also highlighted the “overwhelming evidence” in favour of safe drug consumption rooms, which are facilities where people can use drugs under medical supervision and access other support services. The report said that these facilities could reduce drug-related deaths, infections, and public nuisance, as well as increase the uptake of treatment. However, the UK government has repeatedly blocked the opening of such facilities in Scotland, citing legal and ethical concerns.
The committee urged the UK government to either devolve drug policy to Scotland or amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to allow for the establishment of safe drug consumption rooms and decriminalisation of possession for personal use. The report said that these changes would “enable Scotland to implement a range of measures that are likely to be more effective than those currently available under the existing legal framework”.
Humza Yousaf welcomes the report and calls for a ‘genuine discussion’ with UK ministers
Scotland’s Health Secretary Humza Yousaf welcomed the report and said that it was “a significant moment” in the campaign for drug law reforms. He said that the report showed that there was “a growing consensus across the political spectrum” that Scotland needed more powers to tackle its drug crisis.
He also said that he hoped that the report would prompt a “genuine discussion” with UK ministers on how to address the issue. He said that he had written to the new UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and invited her to visit Scotland and see the situation first-hand. He said that he wanted to work with her “in good faith” and find “common ground” on drug policy.
He added that he was “not interested in a constitutional argument” over drug policy, but rather in finding “practical solutions” that could save lives. He said that he was open to different options, such as devolving drug policy to Scotland, amending the Misuse of Drugs Act, or creating a pilot scheme for safe drug consumption rooms. He said that he was willing to “compromise” with the UK government, but not at the expense of “evidence-based policy”.
Drug-related deaths in Scotland reach record levels
The report by the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee comes amid a worsening drug crisis in Scotland, which has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in Europe. According to official statistics, 1,339 people died from drug-related causes in Scotland in 2020, a 5% increase from 2019 and the highest number since records began in 1996.
The majority of these deaths involved opioids such as heroin and methadone, but other substances such as benzodiazepines, cocaine, and ecstasy were also involved. The average age of those who died was 43, and most of them were male.
The Scottish government has declared drug deaths a national public health emergency and has committed to spending £250 million over five years on improving treatment and recovery services. It has also appointed a minister for drugs policy, Angela Constance, who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of a new national strategy.
However, the SNP has argued that without reforming the UK’s drug laws, which are reserved to Westminster, Scotland will not be able to fully address its drug crisis. The SNP has said that the current legal framework is outdated and ineffective, and that it criminalises people who need help rather than support. The SNP has also accused the UK government of being “ideologically driven” and “out of touch” with the evidence on drug policy.
