Scotland’s drug deaths crisis is a public health emergency, bringing heartache to individuals and communities. As it stands, many people struggling with drug dependency are either unable to access recovery and rehabilitation services in their community or have to wait too long. Scottish Labour is committed to a harm reduction approach, prioritising recovery services in local communities and tackling the issue at its root. We support the opening of a pilot safe consumption room in Glasgow, alongside drug testing facilities and greater access to naloxone packs.

In recognising the need to get recovery services right across communities, Scottish Labour is committed to improving access to residential rehabilitation to all, regardless of where they live and fully implementing the Medication Assisted Treatment standards, including better integration between recovery services and mental health support.

To mark International Overdose Awareness Day 2024, Hillcrest Futures collaborated with partnering organisations to host various events in Dundee, Perth and Angus throughout the week. These included recovery cafes, awareness raising stalls in city centres, harm reduction advice sessions, and Naloxone training and distribution.

Labour will stop the chaos in Scotland’s health and care services, turn the page, and reform them in line with Labour’s founding principles so that our NHS is fit for the future.

Social care is crucial for the dignity and wellbeing of our family, friends, and neighbours. Labour is committed to ensuring everyone lives an independent, prosperous life. Social care is vital to achieving this, but hundreds of thousands of people suffer without the care they need for a dignified life. The sector in Scotland and across the UK needs deep reform: there are inconsistent standards, chronic staff shortages, and people are not always treated with the care, dignity and respect they deserve.

In Scotland, the Feeley Review in 2021 made several recommendations for improving social care for which Scottish Labour continues to campaign. We want to see non-residential care charges abolished without further delay, and unpaid carers granted a right to respite.