SCOTLAND has fewer drug addicts receiving treatment than the rest of the UK while it has the highest death toll, the First Minister has been told.

Labour MSP, Jenny Marra, asked Nicola Sturgeon to increase the treatment rates to help reduce the number of drug related deaths.

The latest figures show that there were 192 drug related deaths in Glasgow in the last year with the Scottish figure hitting a high of 934, which on a population ratio is far higher than England.

In Glasgow the death rate is 24 people per 100,000 population.

The highest in England is the seaside town of Blackpool in Lancashire where it is 14 per 100,000

Experts in the drugs rehabilitation and treatment field expect the number to break the one thousand barrier in the next year unless there is action.

The MSP told Ms Sturgeon that in England 60% of drug addicts are in treatment, in some European countries it is 80% but in Scotland it is only 40%.

She said: “There is nothing in the First Minister’s programme for government this week to tackle that huge public health crisis.

“The human cost is immeasurable, so what will the First Minister do to increase treatment rates and reduce the death toll across Scotland?”

Ms Sturgeon disputed the assertion there was nothing in the current plans.

She said dealing with the rising rate of drug deaths is a “public health priority” for her government.

She said she backed proposals in Glasgow to introduce Safe Drug Consumption Facility but the UK Government has blocked it.

She said: “For example, the programme for government discusses our support for the proposals in Glasgow for a safer drug consumption facility. Unfortunately, right now, it is not within the Parliament’s power to set that up, which is why we hope to encourage the United Kingdom Government to move forward on that.”

Ms Sturgeon said there was a new draft of the alcohol and drug strategy being discussed this week to be published later in the Autumn.

She added: “The strategy will look at how services can adapt to find the people who are most in need and deliver services that address their specific circumstances. We have also set out detailed actions for reducing the number of drug-related deaths.”