The government of Scotland expressed its intention to decriminalize possession of drugs for personal use last week. This move is seen as a measure to combat the country’s staggering overdose death rate, one of the highest in Europe. The government based in Edinburgh, primarily led by the Scottish National Party advocating for independence, believes that by removing criminal charges for drug possession, there could be more room to provide secure, scientifically-backed services to reduce drug-related harm.
Scottish drug policy minister, Elena Whitham, stated at a press conference, joined by other advocates for drug policy reform like ex-New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss, that the current war on drugs has failed.
Whitham further mentioned that the present drug laws are not deterring drug use, preventing the resulting harm, or critically, halting the occurrence of deaths. She emphasized that criminalization amplifies the risks people face and can even be lethal.
Scotland Faces Europe’s Highest Overdose Death Rate
Scotland’s drug overdose death rate triples that of the entire United Kingdom and is the highest in Western Europe. According to the Associated Press, citing government data, there were 1,330 recorded fatal drug overdoses in Scotland last year, a country with a population of just 5.5 million.
In a recently released policy paper, the Scottish government stated, “Each drug-related death is a heartbreaking event with a mourning family and community left behind. The sheer number of drug fatalities in Scotland necessitates every available resource and solution. We firmly believe that a thorough, radical public health approach is required to tackle the drugs emergency.”
The Scottish government’s proposal is inspired by Portugal’s drug policy, where in 2001, criminal penalties were replaced with health-oriented reforms emphasizing drug treatment. A similar decriminalization effort in Scotland, they argue, could alleviate the fear of seeking treatment and support, thereby reducing drug-related harms and enhancing lives.
Whitham also advocated for changing the law to allow for supervised drug consumption facilities, which have been proven to save lives and motivate those struggling with substance abuse to seek help. Other suggestions include regulating the supply of drugs to ensure their safety and consistency.
Whitham warned that without a significant shift in drug policy, the crisis would only escalate. She expressed concern about the impending arrival of synthetic opioids and new, powerful street benzodiazepines.
“If we’re unprepared when these drugs arrive, without modern drug laws in place, I fear what the situation might look like,” she said.
U.K. Government Swiftly Rejects Decriminalization Proposal
However, the proposal to decriminalize drugs faces opposition from conservatives in Scotland and the U.K. national government. While the current Scottish policy allows those found in possession of drugs to be let off with a police warning, full decriminalization would necessitate approval from the conservative U.K. government in London. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Max Blain, stated that such approval would not be forthcoming.
He asserted, “There are no plans to modify our strict position on drugs.”
After Scotland’s decriminalization plan was proposed, the U.K. Home Office stated, “Illegal drugs ruin lives and wreak havoc in communities. We are committed to discouraging drug use by providing support through treatment and recovery and cracking down on the supply of illegal drugs, as outlined in our 10-year drug strategy. Given the related harms, including the risks posed by organized criminals who exploit any opportunity to run a violent and exploitative business, we have no plans to decriminalize drugs.”
Russell Findlay, justice spokesperson for the Scottish Conservative Party, called the proposal “madness”. He claimed, “Attempting to solve Scotland’s drug death crisis, the worst in Europe, by essentially legalizing drugs like heroin, crack, and other class-A drugs is lunacy. This move would increase the amount of drugs on our streets, putting more lives in danger.”
