Greenock, Scotland — Local officials are urging immediate action to address the escalating drug-related deaths in Inverclyde, following statistics revealing that 25 people succumbed to drug misuse last year. This grim figure underscores a persistent crisis in the region, which has consistently reported one of the highest drug death rates in Scotland since 2020, only trailing Glasgow.
Inverclyde MP Martin McCluskey described the figures as a tragic reflection of lives lost and families devastated. He emphasized that each death represents a profound loss to the community, echoing sentiments from Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan, who remarked that every drug-related death is “one too many.”
New data from the National Records of Scotland shows that the number of drug deaths in Inverclyde has decreased slightly, from 26 to 25, from 2023 to 2024. However, McCluskey contends that this marginal reduction does not warrant celebration. “Scotland continues to bear the highest drug death rates in Europe,” he said, labeling this reality as a failure rather than progress.
Statistics indicate that between 2020 and 2024, Inverclyde’s drug death rate was 35.6 per 100,000 people, matching the rate in Dundee. Glasgow remains the only area worse affected, with a rate of 41 per 100,000. While McCluskey acknowledged the slight decline, he highlighted a troubling increase in drug-related deaths in neighboring Renfrewshire, from 44 to 46.
McCluskey criticized the Scottish Government, accusing it of a slow and fragmented response to the ongoing crisis and called for substantial investments in prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. He pointed out the urgent need to address the rise of synthetic opioids, which have contributed to the soaring death toll.
MSP Stuart McMillan acknowledged the positive trend of a 13 percent decrease in drug deaths across Scotland but reinforced that much work lies ahead. Notably, he pointed out that individuals in the most deprived areas of Scotland are 12 times more likely to die from drug misuse compared to those in more affluent regions, a disparity that reflects systemic challenges.
“The data illustrates that despite some progress, the effects of deprivation on drug-related deaths remain stubbornly persistent,” McMillan said. He noted that the ratio of deaths between the most and least deprived areas has varied over time but has improved from a peak of 19 times greater in 2019.
Both McCluskey and McMillan emphasized that comprehensive local strategies are essential to tackle the complex factors contributing to drug abuse in Inverclyde. To this end, McMillan plans to convene a recovery roundtable later this month in Greenock, featuring the Scottish Government’s new Drugs Policy Minister, Maree Todd MSP. This meeting aims to gather insights from local organizations addressing the region’s urgent needs.
“Every life lost is a reason for action,” McMillan stated, urging for a sustained focus on these critical issues. “We cannot afford to be complacent in the face of such heavy tolls.”