Dumbarton’s MSP has given her backing to a consultation on the introduction of overdose prevention centres (OPCs) to tackle Scotland's horrific drug death toll.

Jackie Baillie's Labour colleague Paul Sweeney MSP is asking the public what they think of his idea of providing facilities where people would be able to inject drugs under supervision.

The idea of supervised facilities is backed by the Scottish Government but opposed by the UK Government, which is in charge of drugs policy.

A total of 1,339 people in Scotland died a drug-related death in 2020, according to Scottish Government figures, 29 of them in West Dunbartonshire - up from 18 a decade earlier.

Ms Baillie said: “I welcome any action to tackle the drugs death crisis in Scotland head-on and commend Paul Sweeney for bringing this consultation forward.

“In our communities in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Balloch and Helensburgh, families have been destroyed because of people overdosing on drugs. This is devastating for them and the people around them.

"I commend the work of support agencies, most notably Alternatives, who have worked tirelessly over the years to try and tackle this scourge and improve the outcomes of people tangled in a web of addiction.

“But we must consider whether there is a need to do more. It is appalling that Scotland has the highest drug death rate in Europe and is a damning indictment on the SNP Government as Nicola Sturgeon marks the milestone of becoming the longest-serving First Minister."

Mr Sweeney's consultation is also asking people for their views on replacing the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce - set up by the Scottish Government in 2019 in response to record high numbers of drug-related deaths - with an operationally-independent Scottish Drug Deaths Council.

Ms Baillie continued: “As well as the ambition to open OPCs, which could reduce the number of drug deaths on their own, I am pleased that this consultation will also look at overhauling the watchdog established to try and tackle this public health emergency.

“The Scottish Drug Death Taskforce is not fit for purpose but the proposed Scottish Drug Death Council would be enshrined in law and would have operational independence from government.

"It will learn directly from the lived experience of people who currently use drugs or those who have in the past and is a vital tool in stopping more people from dying due to drugs.”

The idea of supervised OPCs has the backing of parties across the chamber in Holyrood. Although the UK Government is opposed and says it has no intention of revisiting the issue, it's understood that Conservative MSPs would not block any pilot scheme.

Angela Constance MSP, minister for drugs policy, told the Reporter: “Safe consumption facilities have support across the Scottish Parliament. There is no further debate to be had as to whether Scotland would benefit from these facilities – the only question is how they can be delivered.

“If the UK Government reformed the 50-year-old Misuse of Drugs Act to allow these facilities it would allow us to move forward swiftly. If the UK Government are not willing to do this we hope they would at least devolve the responsibility to the Scottish Parliament, where there is clearly a will to act.

“Given the strength of the international evidence that supports the numerous benefits safe consumption facilities can deliver, we’re supporting efforts to determine if there is a way to allow these facilities to be created now.

"As such, we are continuing to work with partners, including the Glasgow City health and social care partnership, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland, to examine how a safer drug consumption facility could operate within the existing legal framework, focusing on how any such facility could operate and be policed.

“Work on the proposal is now at an advanced stage before it is submitted to the Lord Advocate. However, it is vital that if we are able to progress with any such facility, we do it in a way which has the full confidence of all people who would use the facility, of the agencies involved, and the general public.

"Therefore we are working with care to develop a sustainable approach which will allow for any facility to operate to maximum effect.

“I look forward to seeing the full detail of the Bill consultation and as with anything which might help us in addressing this crisis, I will give it a fair and sympathetic hearing.”