POLICY: Proposed Drugs Death (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill

RCN members debated and subsequently passed a resolution at our 2022 Congress which called on RCN Council to lobby the UK Government to support the introduction of safer injecting facilities across the UK.

RCN Scotland therefore supports any attempts to introduce overdose prevention centres in Scotland.

As the proposal document notes, the creation of overdose prevention centres will not be the ‘silver bullet’ in the battle against Scotland’s drug death crisis. Other policy measures, such as clearer links to and improved funding of addiction and emergency services are also vital, as well as increased investment in the workforce, including nursing staff. Mental health nursing makes a significant contribution to alcohol and drug addiction treatment services yet nearly 1 in 10 mental health nursing posts are unfilled, according to the latest data.