They just could not wait. BBC Scotland:
More than 1,200 people in Scotland died of drug misuse last year, new figures show. The much-delayed figures show a record number of deaths for the sixth year in a row. The figure of 1,264 is more than double the number of deaths in 2014 and the worst rate recorded in Europe. It is more than three times the rate for England and Wales.
That’s the whole report so far. The Herald is little better.
Expect days of this with opposition politicians lining up to accuse the SNP of betraying drug users. I’ve just posted a longer read with some of the context explained at:
https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/12/15/drug-deaths-how-they-want-us-to-think-of-ourselves/
I won’t repeat it here but just leave you with these first thoughts:
Why are drug deaths a headline when the lowest infection rate and the second-lowest death rate in the UK, are not?
Why is England’s infection rate being more than twice as high and Wales have three times the rate, of Scotland, not news?
The missed headlines are many.
Why was the increase in the number of attacks on emergency workers during the first lockdown TEN TIMES greater in England than in Scotland?
https://www.scotland.police.uk/spa-media/divfr3ej/20-1091-response.pdf
https://cdn.prgloo.com/media/3a5509c01e924ab0993124cdeb57167b.pdf
Why is Scotland’s 100% IVF programme despite Covid, when England’s is dysfunctional?
I could go on.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Health stats used (both to attack Scotland, but protect England) as a political weapon by the same media which asked for funding, trust and support.
If there is a God, I hope its the one with lightning bolts!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Next we’ll find our lower covid figures are because England has new strain of English virus (Corona hancockia) which has legs and is more infectious than our feeble Scottish variety.
LikeLiked by 3 people
A very convenient “new” strain, when London had to go up a tier (which it should have done last week).
LikeLiked by 4 people
I wondered about that myself.
You know I’ve become really cynical since I joined this site.
It’s great! 😀
LikeLiked by 4 people
Iusedtobeenglish
Not cynical . . . . Informed is more apt.
LikeLiked by 4 people
WE SHOULD ATTACK THE BBC GOVERNMENT
FOR NOT ALLOWING GLASGOW TO PUT IN PLACE DRUG TREATMENT ROOMS
THE UK GOV CONTROL DRUGS LAWS
SO MAYBE THIS ANOTHER WAY OF SCOTTISH CLEARANCES
YET AGAIN
LikeLiked by 3 people
Absolutely Robert. And I believe the person who started a mobile unit, is now being prosecuted. You almost think they want us to fail, Oh! wait…
LikeLiked by 4 people
Aye and at a time when Glasgow had an epidemic of HIV amongst the drug user community.
Ever since then the BBC have made efforts to talk down drug consumption rooms. . . .
LikeLiked by 2 people
All very true John, but what they also miss are the number of deaths of people who began taking drugs during the 1980s – as well as the consequences of the development of a culture of substance abuse in the sort of deprived communities that are Thatcher’s legacy to Scotland – often former metal bashing areas, but anywhere a once vibrant economy has collapsed. For instance at one time the worst coke habit in Scotland was Peterhead.
This is seldom mentioned in the media. Let’s see though if Reporting Scotland gives a repeat showing to their package on this shown earlier today. They interview a guy from Edinburgh (I think) who, the voice over tells us, has been using drugs for “four decades” – you do the arithmetic! Is it mentioned? is it ****
LikeLiked by 2 people