Dundee MSP Joe FitzPatrick met with campaigners calling for a new approach to tackling drug deaths yesterday - as sources dismissed criticism of his failure to appear at a summit on the issue at Holyrood.
The Dundee City West SNP MSP sat down with Peter Krykant and the charity Cranstoun in Edinburgh to hear out their requests for an overdose prevention centre (OPC) in Dundee. Such a centre would give people with drug dependency issues a safe place to use substances, with appropriate aftercare and support to help them beat their addiction.
Mr FitzPatrick pledged his support to a Dundee OPC during the meeting. However, he was criticised by opposition MSPs for failing to also appear at a drug death summit held at around the same time organised by North East Labour MSP Michael Marra.
