Scotland’s drugs problem

Information

In partnership with the University of Stirling 

BSL  interpreted

Scotland retains the unwelcome title of the country with the worst rate of drug deaths in Europe. How brave and bold do politicians need to be to address a situation that owes much to historical, social and economic reasons and what cultural change should take place to ensure that the stigma surrounding substance use is not rooted purely in criminal justice? What does Scotland offer in terms of interventions, service provision and treatment for those who may have lived an entire life of disempowerment?

Chair: Audrey Nicoll MSP, Convener, Criminal Justice Committee 

Panellists: 

Kirsten Horsburgh is CEO of Scottish Drugs Forum, leading efforts to reduce drug-related harm in Scotland. With a background in mental health nursing, she has more than a decade of experience in harm reduction, including managing the national naloxone programme and advising on international overdose prevention.

Catriona Matheson is Professor of Substance Use at the University of Stirling and former chair of the drug deaths taskforce. Her current research includes interventions to reduce high- risk polydrug use and digital solutions.

Patricia Tracey is Head of Alcohol and Other Drugs at Turning Point Scotland and has more than 25 years’ experience across homelessness and alcohol and other drugs. Patricia is also on the Board of Directors for Scottish Drugs Forum and her expertise includes assertive outreach, initiatives to tackle Scotland’s drug death crisis and residential harm reduction.