A CAMPAIGNER is calling for less political point-scoring and more action on drug misuse – proposing educating children about addiction in schools.
Last week, Scotland's annual drug death figures were published, which revealed 1333 people had lost their lives as a direct result of drug misuse, up from 11% on the previous year.
Sandra Holmes has been campaigning for change ever since she first experienced addiction in her own family, and says one way of breaking the cycle is putting a concerted effort into educating young people.
She proposes addressing kids as young as 12, some of whom are already consuming drugs. But says speaking to children shouldn't be a lecture, and must actively involve them in the conversation.
Speaking to The National, she said: "We've asked the Scottish Government for a families conference, and the biggest part of that will be harm reduction and young people.
"From primary 7, we need to educate these bairns so they understand what addiction means and what it can do to lives.
"Talk to them, make them feel part of it. We need to get the bairns feeling that they're important, that life is about them."
Following the announcement of the figures last week, John Swinney answered grilling questions from opposition parties during First Ministers' Questions on his drug deaths.
Conservative leader Russell Findlay questioned Swinney's support for The Thistle, a safe consumption room already open in Glasgow. He also asked why money was being spent on a new one and said cash should instead be put into rehab.
Swinney responded by saying the facility had attended to 195 medical emergencies, and was sure drug deaths would've been worse without the unit.
Academics and Holmes have hailed The Thistle's work and called for further expansions of harm reduction services. They say these services are working.
Holmes said: "I'm saying this on behalf of the families I'm dealing with, from the Highlands to the Borders, harm reduction is crucial in saving lives.
"The people that run it have been handpicked for their kindness, their compassion and the way people are treated. As a mother, I understood why it's there; I've spoken to the people that use it and seen the success rate.
"I spoke to a young guy going to The Thistle. The staff ask, ' Have you been in touch with your family? Do you want to phone your mum? They're there to encourage recovery.
"There isn't an addict that can get into recovery without harm reduction. 10 or 15 years ago, I would never have thought that would be something I'd have said. I'd have thought you're only encouraging my family member to use.
"But if people don't understand what harm reduction is, they need to be educated and understand why we need The Thistle and the one that is coming to Edinburgh."
Holmes says she's noticed how consumption rooms are viewed in other countries compared to in Scotland, where the service is still heavily stigmatised among some.
"If you look at Dublin, the press are all over [the consumption rooms]; the media are praising it and saying how amazing it is.
"You come here, and you've got this negative narrative. "
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Holmes founded the Families Campaign for Change using her experience to help families, most of whom are mothers. Since establishing the group, she has been asked to speak around the world about tackling drugs and how to help people.
She recently appeared on the BBC's Debate Night, where she called out politicians for "giving opinions" not based on facts when talking about the issue.
She received a round of applause from the audience after calling out Reform's Angela Ross for giving her opinion on The Thistle, having never visited the facility.
On her Debate Night comments, Holmes reiterated: "What I said was valid; I meant it 100%.
"Why can you not put your heads together and sit down with the families? It's common sense and lived experience that needs to prevail here.
"Since I said it, the Scottish Government have come right on, and Angela Constance has committed to organising a meeting with the families, so we can hold politicians to account and questioning them."
Despite a week passing since the figures were released, Holmes is motivated to keep up a campaign.
"The impact that this has got on families is massive. The stigma of embarrassment and shame that goes with having an addiction in your family.
"This political point-scoring and blaming everybody has to stop. Something has got to change; families will now be holding the politicians to account."
