Drug related deaths: playing politics while people die

Once again the UK has recorded its highest rate of drug related deaths—this is the seventh annual increase we have witnessed. The number of people dying is now at unprecedented levels, which has led some, including me, to demand that the situation is treated as a public health emergency.

There were nearly 3000 drug misuse deaths in England and Wales in 2018, with nearly three in four of them involving opioids. The situation is worse in Scotland. These are not just statistics, these are human beings who were someone’s mum, dad, daughter, son, or sibling. These deaths, many of which are avoidable, are felt deeply by those left behind.

Drug consumption rooms (DCRs) are one way to reduce the scale of deaths. These facilities vary in what they offer, but the core of the service is the provision of a sterile space where people can inject or smoke illegally …