Commenting on the latest statistics on drug-related deaths for East Lothian and across Scotland, Douglas Alexander MP said:
“Every drug-related death is a human and personal tragedy that causes deep pain within families, for health and social care professionals, and across communities.
“While I welcome the fact that these figures show a decrease in the number of deaths in East Lothian compared with the previous year, the wider national picture remains deeply concerning.
“As colleagues at Holyrood have stated, the Scottish Government must move more rapidly on the implementation of its plans for addressing drug misuse and ensure they are able to respond to the growing risks posed by synthetic substances.”