PM rejects drug decrim to protect young people

The Prime Minister has rejected the idea of drug decriminalisation, saying the Government must be clear about the harm of drugs.

In a BBC Scotland interview, Andy Burnham responded to questions about the First Minister of Scotland’s support for the controversial policy. He explained how, after looking into the idea as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he concluded he could not endorse it.

The Prime Minister reflected: “I don’t think we should send a confusing message to young people, I think we should be clear about the harm of drugs and that’s the position I take.”

The latest data on Scotland’s drug deaths was released last week, revealing an eleven per cent increase from last year. The country’s drug death rates remain the highest in Europe and more than double that of England.

Unacceptable

Responding to the statistics, First Minister John Swinney described the figures as “unacceptable and intolerable”, but reiterated his Government’s support of drug decriminalisation for personal use.

He claimed: “I think it would be part of the range of measures that we could take to reduce the harm of drugs and provide us with a situation where there is more control and an ability to provide greater support to individuals who are affected by drug use.”

Swinney pointed to The Thistle pilot scheme in Glasgow, where addicts are supervised while taking illegal drugs, adding: “If I had my way I would have other drug consumption rooms in other parts of the country but I have to respect the legal process that we undertake.”

‘Dangerous lie’

Russell Findlay MSP criticised the harm reduction approach, saying it “traps addicts in a life of misery, sending thousands to an early grave by peddling the lie that inherently dangerous drugs can be taken safely”.

Findlay urged Swinney to “ditch” his “misguided approach”, warning that it “sends a very dangerous message to young people. They need to know that these drugs cannot be taken safely.”

Drug policy is decided by the UK Government, so any Scottish decriminalisation policy would need to be approved in Westminster.