More than 600 suspected drug deaths in first half of 2025

Responding to the news that there were 607 suspected drug deaths in the first six months of 2025, a 3% increase from the same period in 2024, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“It is horrifying that so many people are dying in Scotland’s drug deaths emergency.  

“Scottish Liberal Democrats are working hard to unpick the damage done by the SNP who, by Nicola Sturgeon's own admission, took their eye off the ball. It's why in the budget I fought to secure a new facility for mothers and their babies born dependent on drugs - something I first encountered when I was a youth worker.

“From rolling out a nationwide network of safer consumption rooms to new drug checking facilities, Scottish Liberal Democrats would give our country the world-class drug services it deserves.  Much more needs done to stop people dying.”