A vigil to "remember and reflect" on the lives lost in drug deaths is to be held in Glasgow.
Rev Brian Casey, who has championed Scotland's battle against drug deaths, will be among campaigners gathering today (Thursday) at Springburn Paris Church to remember those who have lost their lives.
Rev Casey has warned that many more will die as the cost of living crisis continues. He has invited speakers including Moderator Dr Iain Greenshields to urge politicians to keep the drug death crisis as a top priority, reports the Daily Record.
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He said: “We have had a small downturn in the death rate but we are still, by some way, the worst nation in Europe for drug deaths.
“If we start to show any flicker in our resolve we will be back to square one.
“We still do not know if the slight decrease in deaths was just a ripple in the statistics or the beginning of a trend, so we must keep the pressure up.”
The event will include a somber and silent walk around streets near the church, which will include candles being taken from the church to mark lives lost.
Among those present will be the Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) charity, which has represented many families affected by drug deaths.
FAVOR CEO Annemarie Ward said: “In Scotland, we lose far more people than we should to addiction each and every year.
“Behind the shocking statistics, there are real people left grieving and devastated by the loss of their loved ones.
“FAVOR and our allies will not stop campaigning to improve Scotland’s broken addiction system. As a country, we cannot afford to become complacent when we are losing over 1000 people each year to drugs.”
Last year's total death count was 1,330, a small decrease than in 2020 but still, by a huge margin, the worst rate in Europe.
The event at the church will be live streamed at 4pm on Thursday, Dec 22: https://www.facebook.com/springburnparishchurch/
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