Scottish government demands drugs to be decriminalised

Authorities in Scotland have asked the UK government to change drug laws to allow for people to be ‘treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded’.

Last week authorities in Scotland have been campaigning for a revolutionary drug law change to ensure people who use them are deemed as criminals and locked away for years.

Following this, the Scottish government are also asking for laws to be changed to allow for the introduction of supervised drug consumption facilities.

Announcing the news, Elena Whitham, took the spotlight in Scottish Parliament and said: ‘Our current drug law does not stop people from using drugs, it does not stop people from experiencing the harm associated and, critically, it does not stop people from dying.

‘In fact, I would say…that criminalisation increases the harms people experience. Criminalisation kills.’

However, although authorities are pioneering for a major drug law change, they have deemed that it would still be an offense to have possession of drugs with the intention of supplying them to others.

Other proposals from the Scottish government include more substance checking services and increased access to emergency treatments for drug overdoses.

The latest figures show the number of people who died of drug misuse in Scotland dropped slightly last year from 1,339 to 1,330 after eight consecutive years of increases, but the country continues to have by far the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in Europe.

Due to this, the drug crisis prompted more than £250m of investment by the Scottish government into the country’s addiction services. Although this is just one example, as efforts to establish drug consumption rooms in the country have been ongoing for years.

Despite their demands, a Home Office spokesperson from the UK government has claimed that their request is preposterous.

‘Illegal drugs destroy lives and devastate communities. We are committed to preventing drug use by supporting people through treatment and recovery and tackling the supply of illegal drugs, as set out in our 10-year drugs strategy, the spokesperson said. ‘We have no plans to decriminalise drugs given the associated harms, including the risks posed by organised criminals, who will use any opportunity to operate an exploitative and violent business model.’

Against this backdrop, whilst Scotland are campaigning to make drugs legal in their country, authorities in England have cracked down on a new drug in England following claims it has made people suicidal.

Europe’s drugs regulator is currently conducting a review of some weight-loss jabs, which were announced earlier this year, after being alerted they have been linked to thoughts of suicide and self-harm. This shows that government officials still take the effects of drugs on individuals and their loved ones seriously.

Image: GRAS GRÜN