John Swinney defends drugs record as party leaders criticise lack of progress

The Scottish Government has failed to tackle the drugs deaths crisis because it overwhelmingly effects poorer people, Michael Marra has said.

The new Scottish Labour leader, making his debut at First Minister’s Questions, highlighted recent statistics showing people from disadvantaged areas were 15 times more likely to die a drug-related death than those from wealthier backgrounds.

He called on the government to take a new direction to tackle the problem and bring a new plan to parliament.

First Minister John Swinney said the high level of drugs deaths in Scotland was “unacceptable and intolerable”, and highlighted action being taken to reduce it.

He added: “I welcome the willingness of Mr Marra to engage with the Scottish Government on this question and I will ensure that that is taken forward, and there will be dialogue on this question.”

He also said the evidence suggested the recent rise was largely down to the growth in deaths involving synthetic drugs, arguing there “would have been a reduction in drugs death this year” otherwise. He pointed to the efforts of Police Scotland to address this issue.

The latest figures for 2025, published earlier this week, for a total of 1,133 people lost their lives to drugs. This was an 11 per cent rise from the year before.

The death rate – still the highest in Europe – is four times as high as when current records began in 2000.

Four of the five opposition leaders in Holyrood raised the figures during FMQs on Thursday.

Marra described the government’s response as a “complacent disgrace” and blamed the recent significant increases on a decision made by ministers in 2013 to withdraw Valium prescriptions.

He continued: “Over 7,000 people have lost their lives since this Scottish Government declared a public health emergency. We cannot go on like this.

“Scots are 15 times more likely to die from drugs if they are poor than if they are rich. If this was a middle class epidemic we would have locked down, legislated, found the money, educated widely and reformed indiscriminately. Nothing near that scale has happened.

“First minister, we cannot go on like this. This is one of the most serious issues facing Scotland.”

Swinney said he had been made aware that the 2025 figures were likely to show an increase in deaths in February, and he had instructed a review of drugs and alcohol interventions to take place.

He added: “I do agree that we face a public health emergency on drugs deaths and I express my deepest sympathies to everybody who has been affected by the level of drugs death in Scotland. They are unacceptable and intolerable, and the government is focused on addressing these issues.”

He added that his government has increased the rehabilitation service offer, strengthened support for community organisations and interventions, and taken forward harm reduction initiatives. He also said the focus on tackling child poverty would help address the intergenerational issue.

Speaking to journalists after FMQs, Swinney confirmed the Scottish Government still supported decriminalisation. The power to legislate in this area sits with Westminster.

He said: “The government does support that position that there is an argument for decriminalisation of drugs for personal use.

“I think it would be part of the range of measures that we could take to reduce the harm of drugs and to provide us with a situation where there is more control and an ability to provide greater support to individuals who are affected by drug use, it's obviously an issue that requires further consideration. But the government supports that.”

The Scottish Government took some reform proposals to the Conservative government in 2023. It is not thought to have pressed the matter further with Labour.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay called for the closure of Glasgow’s safer drugs consumption unit, The Thistle, arguing it had not worked because the city had seen a rise in drugs death since its opening.

He said the money should instead be redirected towards rehab services.

However, Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton questioned why there was only one safer consumption room in Scotland. He called for more to be established, as well as setting up drug checking facilities and more mother and baby rehab units.

Swinney said Findlay was “just plain wrong” about The Thistle, arguing the number of drugs deaths in Glasgow would have been worse without it. He went on the highlight that the facility had made 612 referrals to other support services.

Reform Scotland’s Malcolm Offord accused the government of “wasting” parliamentary time this week by debating independence, while only giving 30 minutes to this issue.