Deaths in Scottish prisons at record high.

Well we'll just talk about Dundee grannydarkhair. 💐 The town centre is so disappointing just now - it makes me sad. Such a shame for Dundee, I love it as a city.

This probably has a lot to do with the issues.
www.itv.com/news/2022-11-18/prison-guards-leaving-profession-in-droves-fuelled-by-inmate-overcrowding
Not unique to Scotland.

volver I too love Dundee. I was actually born in England, but we moved back up here after my Dad died. And yes, sad describes the town centre nowadays. Every time I go in, there’s another shop, cafe, etc. closed. My daughter said the other day that she never goes into the centre because “there’s nothing for me”. My reply was that it was because of people like her never going that it was the way it is. Things got a tad heated at that point 😁
But she has a point, there’s not a lot going on in the Wellgate Centre and at the opposite end, the closure of Debs hasn’t helped.
But the city is beautifully sited, to quote Stephen Fry “Dundee’s setting is probably more extraordinary than any other city in Scotland or Britain. It is about ideal, as ludicrously ideal, as any city could be”.
Who would argue with that? Any time I’ve been away for any length of time and am returning via the rail or road bridge I get this swoop of emotion, it’s so beautiful looking across.

From the Guardian.

Scotland has a drugs problem – and it’s called Westminster

19/07/2019 · Yet, ever since devolution, the Home Office has refused to allow Scotland power to vary the 1971 drugs act. With its antique schedules and ineffective punishments, this act echoes the days of...

paddyanne No idea what that article says, but it’s over three years old. If the Scottish Govt feels the drugs problem is all Westminster’s fault why haven’t they tried to open negotiations to change things? Or have they?

In 2007 Scotland had approximately 325 rehab beds in 22 facilities and 455 deaths. By 2018 the rehab beds were down to less than 70 and drug deaths had increased to 1187. The Scottish Government deliberately cut funding by about £40 million .. against the advice of experts with the inevitable results. Nothing to do with Westminster. Nicola Sturgeon’s comment on all of this when challenged was. “We took our eye of the ball “. What a flippant and insulting remark.

Not flippant. Not insulting.

I'm so tired of this....and on St Andrews Day, too.

Policies on the misuse of drugs are retained by Westminster.

Here's some info that maybe no-one will read...

www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100227354/

Cathymac

In 2007 Scotland had approximately 325 rehab beds in 22 facilities and 455 deaths. By 2018 the rehab beds were down to less than 70 and drug deaths had increased to 1187. The Scottish Government deliberately cut funding by about £40 million .. against the advice of experts with the inevitable results. Nothing to do with Westminster. Nicola Sturgeon’s comment on all of this when challenged was. “We took our eye of the ball “. What a flippant and insulting remark.

Nice to see an honest factual comment from someone other than a SNP apologist.

Any comment on the fact that drug misuse is a reserved matter and that the Scottish government have been trying to get things changed for years?

No?

Quelle surprise.

Yes
If things are the same in England how come Scotland has a worse record for drug deaths.
There’s no shortage of drug users here.
Just for once will SNP enthusiasts see what’s in front of them.
No?
Quelle surprise.

We do have an issue with drugs use and drug deaths. It's terrible. It's heartbreaking. It's much worse than in England. I'm so sad for my country.

If only we had the powers to do something about it.

Sorry volver but
1) I don’t have enough battery left to read that lengthy Q&A session, I’ll do it tomorrow.
2) My eyes are starting to play up, I’ve been looking at this wee screen for far too long today.

grannydarkhair 👍🏼

Oreo

Yes
If things are the same in England how come Scotland has a worse record for drug deaths.
There’s no shortage of drug users here.
Just for once will SNP enthusiasts see what’s in front of them.
No?
Quelle surprise.

It’s not cause and effect you know Oreo. If you took, say, deaths from knife crime, England is the worst. It’s far more complex than you are implying.

Casdon did you not read Cathymac's post? Detailed and specific info.

We are talking drugs and drug deaths Casdon but thanks for your words of wisdom

Several people ask why drug use is more prevalent in Scotland. I don't know any statistics or official reasons, but I do wonder whether it has the same roots as why alcohol is more of a problem, not just in Scotland but also in Northern countries in general.

In countries further south, alcohol is more something to be drunk with food, but Scottish and Scandinavian usage is more to take it to counteract the weather and the longer darker evenings of winter, and the depression caused by the combination of these. In summer, they just carry on with the habit. Drugs may be another way to block out a dreich Scots winter, and once you get a taste for them, to enliven a Scottish summer and satisfy a craving.

An interesting take on it Elegran you could be right.

Aveline

Casdon did you not read Cathymac's post? Detailed and specific info.

Yes.
I think you missed my point, which was that blaming the SNP for drug deaths in Scotland because they have reduced rehab beds ignores the bigger picture. Rehab is important, but it’s not the factor which influences uptake of drug taking.
. Similar cuts to rehab have happened in England, but we’ll just ignore that shall we?
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/addiction-drug-alcohol-treatment-austerity-cuts-government-council-a8992696.html
I’m not Scottish by the way, I just get irritated by deliberately provocative posts.

If there have been similar cuts in rehab beds in England why are the Scottish deaths so very much higher?

Aveline

If there have been similar cuts in rehab beds in England why are the Scottish deaths so very much higher?

Because the number of deaths are not directly related to the number of rehab beds available - rehab beds are important, but are only utilised by people who want to quit drugs, and have low turnover of cases so are only a small piece in the jigsaw.
It’s not cause and effect, as I said to Oreo.

Casdon, coming round here with your evidence based analysis... whatever next? 😏

Elegran
Spot on. In my own experience the Icelanders take the Olympic gold in alcohol consumption followed by Russians.

We do need to ask why Scotland has become "the drugs capital of Europe"

Poverty? Depression?
Quick money for the dealers, sending kids out on bicycles.