The Record has written extensively about drug deaths and the failures of the Scottish Government to deal with a national emergency.
Nicola Sturgeon admitted she had taken her “eye off the ball”, as thousands died from overdoses.
Many families claimed their loved ones were denied vital treatment.
Money was made available as the First Minister declared her personal commitment to a National Mission on drugs.
Today we hear that drug deaths may actually be increasing – two years after Sturgeon’s defiant words.
What is most concerning now is the lack of words.
There has been a deafening silence around the drugs issue on most days during the SNP leadership battle.
Humza Yousaf did, belatedly, announce that he would put the issue at the front and centre of his agenda as first minister, should he win.
But the reality is that there has been more talk of unicorns featuring on the new £2 notes than there has been on Scotland’s ongoing drugs shame.
Cynics might argue that the issue has dropped down the agenda because it’s not a vote winner.
Or is it possible that as a nation, we have simply accepted the tag of European drug death capital?
The abject lack of success in turning around this catastrophic and enduring situation is more than a national embarrassment.
It beggars belief that a £250million funding package has failed to bring about any kind of meaningful reduction in the numbers of people who are dying in our poorest communities.
Whoever wins the race to be first minister must make the drug death crisis a priority – and keep their eye on the ball.
Long Covid agony
THE terrible impact of Long Covid is laid bare in the Record today.
With the number of cases nudging 200,000, there has never been a greater need for more resources to help those struggling.
Today, on International Long Covid Day, we tell of two sufferers who say
their lives have been destroyed by the condition.
They are both reliant on charity Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland for help but want the Scottish Government to do much more.
Patients and politicians want to see as many specialist clinics in Scotland as there are south of the border.
Sufferers also need financial help to stop them losing their homes as they battle this devastating illness.
These demands must be listened to by the Scottish Government.
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