Anas Sarwar hits out at ‘scandal’ of increase in suspected drugs deaths

Figures showing a 31% increase in drugs deaths in Scotland over the last three months are a “national scandal and a national disgrace”, Anas Sarwar has said – with the Scottish Labour leader insisting the rise in fatalities showed the SNP is “not fit to be in office”.

Mr Sarwar was visiting a drugs charity in Glasgow on Tuesday as figures were published showing there were a total of 330 suspected drugs deaths in Scotland between December 2025 and February 2026.

As well as being 31% higher than the previous quarter, the latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (Radar) figures were up by 16% on the same period a year ago.

Mr Sarwar said the rise in deaths was not only “heart-breaking for those individuals and their families” but was also a “national scandal and a national disgrace”.

Stressing that “one death is one death too many”, the Scottish Labour leader added: “Genuinely if this was a type of cancer rather than drugs deaths, I think this would be a national emergency and much great action would have been taken by government.

“The fact that it has not happened over the last five years, actually over the last 20 years, is a national disgrace and perfect evidence of why the SNP must be removed from office.”

He spoke out as he visited the Second Chance project in Glasgow, which supports people with drug and alcohol problems, as he campaigned in the run-up to next week’s Scottish election.

Mr Sarwar vowed there would be improved investment in services supporting people into abstinence, and greater funding for detox and rehabilitation facilities if he succeeds in ousting the SNP next week.

The latest figures come five years after former SNP first minister Nicola Sturgeon conceded her party had taken its “eye off the ball” when it came to Scotland’s drugs crisis.

And Mr Sarwar said those struggling with addiction needed “more than just warm words from an SNP first minister”.

Speaking to the Press Association, the Scottish Labour leader said: “We will take on the drugs deaths emergency and, as first minister, I will ensure that we have proper investment in abstinence and detox, that we take rehabilitation seriously, that means investing in rehab beds.

“But it also means pathways to better outcomes for individuals, that means investment in skills, in employment and also in housing.”

He continued: “Five years ago, Nicola Sturgeon said that she took her eye off the ball and that an incoming, re-elected SNP government would take the drugs deaths emergency seriously.

“Today, five years later, we have new figures that show in the last quarter drug deaths have gone up by 31%, that’s a national scandal and disgrace and it is perfect evidence of why they are not fit to be in office and why Scotland needs change.

“And what it needs is more than just warm words from an SNP first minister, what it needs is the hard work and the action and that is what I am committed to doing.”