An MSP has called for urgent action to stop Dundee becoming Scotland’s drug death capital, with the city already posting the worst figures on at least one key measure.
Dundee-based MSP and Scottish Labour’s community safety spokeswoman Jenny Marra has called on the Scottish Government and Dundee City Council to do more to tackle and monitor the problem.
The North-East list MSP says the authorities should agree a target to reduce the number of drug-related deaths in the city.
The call comes after Scottish Government figures revealed Dundee has the highest per capita rate of drug deaths in Scotland.
Ms Marra has criticised the way the Scottish Government and the city council have recorded their performance on the issue.
She said: ”Dundee is suffering from a very real problem with drug deaths. Latest figures show it has the highest number of deaths per population in Scotland and since the SNP took power in 2007 the average annual number of drug-related deaths has risen more than 100%.
”Our monitoring of the issue has been left wanting and we have had no solid reporting on drug-related deaths since 2009, as well as no agreed targets on how to reduce the increasing number of drug deaths happening in Dundee.
”I am calling on the SNP in the Scottish Government and the city council to include up-to-date statistics on all drug deaths in our city.
”They must also agree a clear target to reduce the unacceptably high number of drug-related deaths we are seeing in the city.
”If the city council and Scottish Government are serious about tackling the drug problem in Dundee, they must commit to monitoring their performance based on hard evidence and clear targets.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ”Every drug-related death is a tragedy and the figures published earlier this month underline Scotland has a legacy of drug misuse that stretches back decades as evidenced by the rising average age of those dying a drug-related death in Scotland.
”While it will take time to tackle this tragedy, we will do that through continuing to invest and support the recovery of those affected by drugs in Scotland.
”We are investing £28.6 million for front-line drug treatment and recovery services in 2012/13. We are also dramatically bringing waiting times for treatment down and are on course to achieve a maximum of three weeks by 2013.”
Councillor Ken Guild, Dundee City Council’s leader, said: ”Every drug death in the city is a tragedy for the individual and their families. The human cost of drugs to society is something I do not underestimate.
”The city council knows this is an issue of major concern to people in our communities and that is why it is a priority in our planning.
”We work in partnership with a wide range of organisations across Dundee to help younger people avoid drugs and helping those who are currently addicted to recover.
”All politicians should realise that behind every statistic, lies an individual human tragedy.”