People tell stories of those lost to drug deaths in Glasgow

The latest figures show 291 men and women lost their lives to drugs in Glasgow in 2020.

It is a new record, up from the 279,in 2019 and the previous record high of 280 in 2018.

READ MORE: Drug deaths hit shocking new record in Glasgow and Scotland

Across Scotland, the total was 1339, another record high for the seventh year in a row as the number increased by 5% on last year.

Since 2013, when it was 527, deaths the Scottish total has risen year on year to this year’s record high, once more.

Campaigners met in Buchanan Street to remember the dead and to call for urgent and radical change to get more people into treatment services.

Annemarie Ward, Chief Executive  of Faces and Voices of Recovery Scotland, said: “Our addiction treatment services are failing. We need radical reform."

She added: "To a certain extend the Scottish Government is doing their

 bit with the money, £20m a year for rehab, we know thats' not much.

"But local authorities are not prioritising rehab. they are spending it on the same things they always spend it on. that's why we need a new law to give the right to treatment."

She urged politicians to back the right to rehab bill, Favour has helped develop and which the Scottish Conservatives will present to the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Ward urged MSPs to support the Bill.

She added: "We need MSPs to support changing the law."

Several men and women spoke of their own struggles with addiction and of those who did not survive.

Louise McPhater told of losing her sister, Angie, in 2011.

She said: “Ten years on and we’re getting increase after increase in the deaths.

“This is a tsunami. Today’s number is nothing short of a criminal disgrace.

“They’re not just statistics, they are our families.”

Graham, from Glasgow, was recently out of rehab with Phoenix House. He said he lost his brother to drugs in 2012.

READ MORE: ‘Nothing has changed’ families warn on drugs ahead of death figures

He said: “I just want people to get the help they need. I want people to understand how much help people need and deserve.

"We just want to get on with our lives in peace and be loved like everybody else.”

One man said he had been at “dozens of funerals in the last year”

He said etizolam and street benzodiazepines was a huge problem.

He said “They are killing people in their droves. I’ve been to dozens of funerals in the last year. They are killing people and we need to do something about it.

In Glasgow street benzodiazepines were present in three quarters of all drug related deaths in 2020.

There were 218 deaths, among the 291 total, where street benzodiazepines, including street valium and etizolam were present.

James Docherty, from Glasgow said: “It shouldn’t be easier to get into Barlinnie than it is to get into treatment centre in Glasgow.

“Seventeen years ago I went into a treatment centre and their diagnosis and treatment saved me.

“Because of them I have three children who have never visited me in prison or seen me using.

"The reason prison doesn’t work for addiction is you can’t punish addiction. Addiction is already a punishing enough experience.”

Sean, 33, said: “Addiction to legal highs destroyed me. I was in prison for a year and I asked for help but there was none for legal highs.

"There are people in prison dying from legal highs. One guy I was close to died just before New Year.”

Sean said he got the help he needed eventually from recovery group Sisco, which works with men in Barlinnie.

Scott, said: " I was in Phoenix House in 2019. Since then 58 close friends have passed away from addiction. We are all human and we need help.”

He said there were few people from Glasgow in the rehab services in the city.

He asked: “Where is the money going?

“Addiction is a horrible thing but recovery is amazing. When you recover your family recovers.

"They get peace of mind knowing that they can go to bed and they won’t get a knock on the door to tell them you have died.”

The memorial event was attended by Glasgow SNP and Conservative politicians.

Drug Policy Minister, Angela Constance, SNP Glasgow Central MP Alison Thewliss and Conservative leader Douglas Ross, Glasgow Conservative MSP Annie Wells and Shettleston councillor, Thomas Kerr, attended.

Constance said: “My focus is entirely on turning fine words into actions. I want to re-assure you the needs of those who are here are imprinted on me.

I’m here because I’m accountable to you. I’m big on accountability.”

Annemarie Ward, chief executive of Favour Scotland, responded:”Fine words, Angela, fine words.

"There will be more fine words from our politicians but as the banner we have today says ‘You keep talking we keep dying’.

“Back our bill Angela, back our bill.”

Douglas Ross, Conservative leader, said: "The first thing that caught my eye today was the banner, 'You keep talking, we keep dying'.

"Last year 1339 people died, more people each year and we have to stop that. Our Bill will enshrine in the right to law the right to rehab. My party will bring it forward to the Scottish Parliament.

"The time for talking is over, it's incumbent on us to deliver."