By stewartb

Once again, the way BBC Scotland reports on issues of importance and serious concern smacks of a preference to gaslight voters in Scotland – and in the process undermine the government in Edinburgh – rather than ‘educate’/inform by providing context, perspective and relevant comparative analysis.

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In its response to the latest drug deaths in England and Wales based on ONS reporting, the Scottish Drugs Forum (October 2025) stated: ‘The latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that drug-related deaths in England and Wales have reached a record high, with a devastating 5,565 people in England and Wales dying in 2024.

‘It is deeply concerning that the ONS acknowledges “undercounts” in its report, with around one in five death registrations failing to specify the drug or drugs involved.’ (my emphasis)

It adds this regarding the data for England and Wales: ‘According to the report, deaths attributed to nitazenes have nearly quadrupled since 2023.

‘We urge the UK Government to expand the harm reduction measures that should be available to people who use drugs and the services that seek to support them – by introducing drug-checking services, expanding naloxone distribution, and rolling out safer drug consumption facilities, while also ensuring that drug treatment services are adequately resourced, evidence-based, and responsive to people’s diverse and changing needs.’

Source: https://sdf.org.uk/drug-related-deaths-in-england-and-wales-oct-2025/

Meanwhile in Scotland: (a) on drug checking services, a national service is now provided by the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) at the University of Dundee plus local checking facilities already established in Glasgow and in planning for other main cities. (The latter facilities require a Home Office licence to operate); (ii) on naloxone distribution, extensive distribution in Scotland has been achieved – see regular monitoring reports on Public Health Scotland’s website and the summary from TuS; and (c) on safer drug consumption facilities, the first one has been established in Glasgow after much Westminster government resistance.

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Back on July 4, 2024, the UK-based charity, Transform (aka the Drugs Policy Foundation) reflected on Westminster’s 14 years of drugs policy failings on its website under the headline ‘A NEW UK GOVERNMENT… WHAT NEXT FOR DRUG POLICY?’. This is its assessment:

‘As the Conservative government departs after 14 years of largely disastrous drug policy management in the UK, few tears will be shed in drug policy circles. Outcomes have been generally terrible; Drugs-related deaths have doubled, illegal drugs are cheaper and stronger than ever before, drug markets have become more violent and exploitative, prisons are overflowing, and pressures on underfunded drug services are reaching breaking point.’

And: ‘.. it’s been an unrelentingly grim mix of drug war posturing, negligence, and denial. Debate on progressive policy and law reform has been completely shut down, despite accelerating progress around the world. And, even in the face of an unprecedented drug death crisis, policy has been defined by a profound hostility to evidence based harm reduction measures proven to save lives.’

Voters in Scotland reliant on BBC Scotland for news and insight would be wholly unaware of this viewpoint!

Commenting on the incoming Labour government, Transform states: ‘.. the previous Labour government had an almost equally dismal record on drug policy, and has been consistently weak in opposition. Concerningly, despite the urgency of the still-worsening overdose crisis – the drugs issue has barely featured in the election debate for Labour or Conservatives, with ‘tough on law and order’ showboating the preferred default.’

And finally, Transform comments on the SNP: ‘The SNP have been useful advocates of pragmatic drug reform, even if delivery in Scotland has been underwhelming, often stymied by legal constraints imposed from Westminster. As drug related deaths have continued to rise to new records, they have pushed for decriminalisation & innovative harm reduction interventions, including OPCs (overdose prevention centres) and drug checking. The SNP controlled Scottish Government’s vision for the future of Scottish drug policy included a groundbreaking exploration of regulation.

‘SNP MP numbers have, however, been drastically reduced (from 48 to 9) in Westminster, so they will be a much diminished voice – not least with the loss of long time drug reform champions Ronnie Cowan, Alison Thewlis, and Tommy Sheppard.’

A public service media organisation should provide such context, especially on a topic which it has over a prolonged period devoted so much attention. Surely BBC Scotland would not be motivated by another agenda?

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