Murdo says the latest suspected drug deaths figures in Fife are “deeply concerning.”
His call comes after new statistics showed that the number of deaths suspected to have been lost to drugs between October and December last year was 295 across Scotland.
That was the highest quarterly figure since the quarter between April and June 2021, when 329 deaths were recorded.
In Fife policing division, there were 20 suspected drug deaths in the final three months of 2022. That was an increase of six from the previous quarter in 2021.
The number of suspected drug deaths in 2022 in Fife also increased from the previous year – from 72 in 2021 to 76 last year.
Murdo says that the drugs-death epidemic is Scotland’s national shame and one of the worst failings of Nicola Sturgeon’s time as First Minister. He added the figures only reaffirm the need for the SNP-Green government to finally back the Scottish Conservatives’ Right to Recovery Bill.
It has been backed by frontline experts and would guarantee access to treatment for everyone in Fife who needs it.
Commenting, Murdo Fraser MSP said: “The rise in suspected drug deaths in the most recent quarter in Fife are deeply concerning. Drug deaths are Scotland’s national shame. The fatality rate is still by far the worst in Europe and one of the worst legacies of Nicola Sturgeon’s tenure as First Minister.
“She shamefully took her eye off the ball. Now lives lost to the scourge of drugs in Fife are on the increase again and heading in the wrong direction.”
Murdo added: “It is incredibly disappointing that the scandal of drug deaths barely rated a mention in the SNP’s bitter televised leadership debates. Whoever emerges victorious from that race must give their full backing to the Scottish Conservatives’ Right to Recovery Bill."
