Groupe de travail sur les décès liés aux drogues en Écosse : Rapport sur la réforme de la législation en matière de drogues

Le groupe de travail recommande une réforme législative immédiate pour limiter la crise destructrice des décès liés aux drogues en Écosse. Pour en savoir plus, en anglais, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous.

The Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce have looked at how changes in three key areas could enable a more effective national response:

• Changes within the law – changes to the process and implementation of the existing legal framework, which in Scotland is the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, itself reserved to the UK Government.
• Changes to the culture surrounding the law – How the re-calibration of the outcomes we want from the implementation of drug laws and moving toward a public health approach (reducing risk and vulnerability), away from crime and punishment could transform their effect.
• Changes to the Law and Regulation – The Report lists specific areas where current legislation should be amended to better fit the realities and evolving nature of Scotland’s drug and drug deaths challenge. This includes examples such as regulations regarding the prescription and supply of controlled drugs, the control of the supply of pill presses, and the introduction of safer consumption facilities. These examples, amongst others, highlight where current law acts as a barrier to the implementation of a public health approach which the Taskforce believes is a necessity.

The Taskforce will now consider ways to set in action the items The Report identifies as having immediacy – notably changes within the law and changes to the culture surrounding the law. It will also seek to help expedite the process of legislative reform The Report recommends.

The Report summarises the consensus views of over 100 organisations and individuals who were engaged to give expert views on Scotland’s legal framework and its implementation. These included experts in the field, including members of the Drug Deaths Taskforce, those who work in Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, Community Justice Partnerships and third sector organisations. Lived experience representatives and family members made valuable contributions throughout.