Swinney rejects claims national drugs mission declared to ‘control narrative’

First Minister John Swinney has rejected claims the national mission on drug deaths was declared to “control the narrative” rather than improve the situation.

Nicola Sturgeon pledged £250 million to the issue in 2021, as well as creating the specific post of drugs minister and convening a task force to recommend ways to stem the problem.

The chair of that task force – Professor Catriona Matheson – would later quit in anger over what she perceived as her work being rushed.

Writing in the Daily Record on Monday, Prof Matheson questioned the reasoning for declaring the national mission.

“The national mission to reduce drug deaths was a headline announcement of £250 million to reassure us that Nicola Sturgeon had taken control, with her ‘dedicated’ drugs minister by her side.

“Unfortunately, it was more about controlling the narrative than addressing drug deaths.”

Scotland has been struggling under the weight of the highest drug death rate in western Europe in recent years, with more than 1,000 lives being lost every year since 2018.

Speaking to the PA news agency on Monday, First Minister John Swinney – who served as Ms Sturgeon’s deputy during her time in Bute House – rejected the assertions of the Stirling University academic.

“I don’t agree with these comments,” he said.

“What we’re focused on in the national mission on drugs is to reduce drug deaths and to do all that we can to build up the support services that are in place to enable people to be able to overcome the complications and the impact of drugs in their lives.

“Of course we have invested heavily in expanding rehabilitation services and supporting the journey of individuals to overcome addiction and that’s been the hallmark of delivering the national mission.”

Pressed on whether the Scottish Government had done enough to reduce drug deaths, which sat at 1,017 for last year, the First Minister said: “I recognise the scale of the challenge that we face on drug deaths, which is why we’ve committed to a very significant programme of investment to expand rehabilitation services and to make sure that those are available to individuals to help them to make that journey from addiction.

“That’s the real, practical, tangible steps that we’ve been taking to make sure that we address the needs of those who face addiction and to support them on that journey.”