Anas Sarwar: SNP inaction on drug deaths crisis 'an insult to families' as Labour unveils strategy
Anas Sarwar has published his plan to tackle Scotland’s drug death crisis.
Anas Sarwar has hit out at the SNP for “not taking seriously” Scotland’s drug death crisis - as new figures showed a 31 per cent rise in fatalities over the last three months.
The Scottish Labour leader claimed inaction from SNP ministers was “an insult to those families” who have lost loved ones to drugs misuse, as he set out his strategy to invest more in abstinence, detox and rehab beds.
Speaking at a drugs charity in Glasgow, Ms Sarwar accused the SNP of “finding another government to blame for the failures that happen here in Scotland” over repeated calls for the UK government to treat drug misuse as more of a health emergency than through the criminal justice system.
The Scottish Labour leader said that approach by the SNP was the “cheap and easy thing to do”, as he accused John Swinney’s government of “not taking seriously the 31 increase in deaths in the last quarter”.
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He added: “It’s an insult to those families that are having to pay the price of having lost a loved one to the drugs deaths emergency.”
Mr Sarwar warned that if elected first minister, he would end what he claimed was a culture of not investing properly in abstinence and detox, and rehabilitation beds. But he would not be drawn on whether a change in the law at UK level was needed to turn the dial on reducing drug harm in Scotland.
He set out his strategy as figures were published showing there were a total of 330 suspected drugs deaths in Scotland between December 2025 and February 2026.
As well as being 31 per cent higher than the previous quarter, the latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (Radar) figures were up by 16 per cent on the same period a year ago.
The latest figures come five years after former SNP first minister Nicola Sturgeon conceded her party had taken its “eye off the ball” when it came to Scotland’s drugs crisis.
And Mr Sarwar said those struggling with addiction needed “more than just warm words from an SNP first minister”.
He said: “We will take on the drugs deaths emergency and, as first minister, I will ensure that we have proper investment in abstinence and detox, that we take rehabilitation seriously, that means investing in rehab beds.
“But it also means pathways to better outcomes for individuals, that means investment in skills, in employment and also in housing.”
Mr Sarwar added: “Five years ago, Nicola Sturgeon said that she took her eye off the ball and that an incoming, re-elected SNP government would take the drugs deaths emergency seriously.
“Today, five years later, we have new figures that show in the last quarter drug deaths have gone up by 31 per cent, that’s a national scandal and disgrace and it is perfect evidence of why they are not fit to be in office and why Scotland needs change.
“And what it needs is more than just warm words from an SNP first minister, what it needs is the hard work and the action and that is what I am committed to doing.”
Asked about the extent of his proposed drug testing and whether it could include music gigs and nightclubs, Mr Sarwar said: “I think we have to have the pilots and evidence and see what works and where. I think we have to be evidence-led.”
Clare Haughey, SNP candidate for Rutherglen and Cambuslang, said: “The SNP has recently introduced a new alcohol and drugs strategic plan, backed by more than £160 million in 2026-27, which reaffirms our support for the use of drugs and alcohol to be treated as a public health issue.
“The last five years have seen record investment in alcohol and drugs services, and significant progress has been made.
“Recovery from addiction can look very different for everyone, and the SNP is committed to deploying a human rights approach.”
She argued that “Anas Sarwar is good at making and breaking promises but he must come clean with voters about what he plans to cut to achieve what he sets out here”
Ms Haughey highlighted “analysis showing that Labour plan to slash £1 billion from Scotland’s NHS budget”.
She added: “There is still work to be done but under John Swinney’s leadership, a re-elected SNP government will continue to do everything we can to save and improve lives."
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