14 Aug 2019
Life expectancy in Scotland has stalled in part due to the rise in drug deaths according to the latest report from the National Registers of Scotland.
The report, Scotland’s Population 2018 – The Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends states that “The largest causes of the stall in life expectancy are the slowing of improvements seen in the reduction of deaths from heart disease and increases in drug related deaths”.
The Scottish Conservatives have said that this “highlights the national scandal that is Scotland’s high number of drug deaths” and called on the SNP to participate in a cross-party summit on the issue.
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary said:
“This shocking revelation highlights the national scandal that is Scotland’s high number of drug deaths.
“Too many Scots lives are being destroyed by addiction while the SNP continues to pursue its misguided maintenance policy.
“The Scottish Conservatives have already called for a cross-party summit in order to understand and tackle this problem but the SNP has failed to engage.
“We have also spelled out our approach to tackling addiction and set a target to reduce drug deaths by 50% over the next five years.
“This is a crisis that the Scottish Conservatives are committed to solving but the SNP must act.”
Follow this news feed: Scottish Conservatives