Members of the public drafted in to help MSPs come up with new ideas to tackle drugs harms in Scotland have been ‘shocked’ at what they say is a lack of urgency in tackling the crisis.

A report by a Scottish People’s Panel on Drugs says cultural change and “brave and bold action” are required to tackle the “public health emergency” in Scotland created by drug use.

The panellists say the Scottish government’s attitude towards drugs policy to date has reinformed stigma and that ministers must now take accountability for what the panellists say must be a change in approach.

Among their 19 recommendations are calls for ringfenced funding and a focus on prevention, alongside public campaigns to raise awareness.

The panellists are also calling for greater involvement of the third sector and people with lived experience in service delivery, as well as improvements in the way information is shared between government agencies.

Their report also recognises some progress has been made, including the introduction of the Naloxone programme to prevent fatal overdoses and the opening of the safer drug consumption room in Glasgow.

The randomly selected panel – which was created by the Scottish parliament last year to gather views of the public on the current state of drug-related harm in Scotland – came to its conclusions following two weekends of evidence sessions, hearing from people with lived experience, academics, and people who work in this area.

One of the 23 panellists, Mairi McIntosh from the Highlands and Islands, said she found participating in the People’s Panel “humbling”:

“The team at the Scottish parliament organised a diverse range of experts and worked hard to lay out the worrying and rapid escalation in drug related deaths and harms in Scotland. 

"All the evidence we heard highlighted the urgency for action from the Scottish government to implement brave and lasting change. 

"I am hopeful that our report shows that as voices from across Scotland, representing different backgrounds and lives, some directly affected by the issues of drug harm and death and others not, that we want the Scottish government to acknowledge the causes and barriers like stigma and discrimination and realise that we cannot afford to not take bold action now."

The panel’s report is set to inform the three parliament committees responsible for scrutinising matters related to reducing drug deaths and tackling harmful drug use – the health committee, the criminal justice committee and the social justice and social security committee.

The committees will come together to take evidence from some of the panellists, and hear from the Scottish government about its recommendations, at a meeting on 20 February.

Audrey Nicoll MSP, convener of the criminal justice committee, thanked the panel for their work:

“Our committees look forward to thoroughly considering the panel’s findings and putting its report’s recommendations to the Scottish Government.”

The Scottish government said it will carefully consider the recommendations of the group.

Health and Social Care Secretary Neil Gray said:

“We want every person experiencing harm from alcohol or drug use to be able access the support they need. It is encouraging that the panel recognised progress but there is more to do. Lived experience is already at the heart of our five-year £250m National Mission on drugs and we will use these recommendations to help us target our efforts.

“Record levels of funding for Alcohol and Drugs programmes were protected in the draft Budget. We maintained £112m to local ADPs for treatment and support services. We have responded to requests for more certainty over funding by baselining a further £19m of ADP funding which they have highlighted as important for sustainability and recruitment.

“We are taking a wide range of evidence-based measures to reduce harm and save lives. These include opening the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility pilot, working towards the opening of drug-checking facilities which would enable us to respond faster to emerging drug trends, and widening access to residential rehab and life-saving naloxone. Increasing the availability of naloxone is a key priority and we have invested more than £3m in widening access, including substantial funding for our emergency services.”

Read more: Watchdog: shift from crisis model for alcohol & drugs; Smashing stigma to save lives in Scotland; Safe consumption rooms for drug harms; Families to shape campaign against stigma