UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham rejected decriminalising personal drug use, despite Scotland First Minister John Swinney’s support after drug deaths there rose 11%. The UK government controls drug policy and would need to approve the change in Scotland.
Burnham said decriminalisation could send young people a confusing message about drug harm. Scotland’s approach has included the UK’s first safer consumption facility, in Glasgow, where people can inject heroin or cocaine under medical supervision; a drugs-checking facility is also due to open in the city.
More than 11,000 drug-related deaths have been recorded in Scotland over the past decade. National Records of Scotland said last year’s increase was driven by more male deaths, and drug-related deaths in the most deprived areas were 15 times as high as in the least deprived.
