London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

Heads of Scotland's drug death taskforce resign

Heads of Scotland's drug death taskforce resign

The heads of Scotland's drug death task force have resigned.

Chairwoman Prof Catriona Matheson and her deputy, former deputy chief constable Neil Richardson, have stepped down from their roles.

They said the government's "demand for speed" over a report on reforms was "counterproductive" and driven by a desire to meet targets rather than achieving "sustainable change"

But minister Angela Constance said the taskforce needed to "move faster".

Prof Matheson, a Stirling University expert in substance misuse, has been chairwoman of the taskforce since it was established in 2019.

It was set up by the Scottish government in a bid to curb a rising number of drug deaths.

The then public health minister Joe Fitzpatrick described the situation as an "emergency" and said new approaches were needed "even if at first they may be challenging".


Drug deaths in Scotland reached a record high of 1,339 in 2020 with the country suffering by far the highest fatality rate of any country in Europe.

Figures published earlier this month showed that Police Scotland recorded 1,007 deaths believed to be linked to drug use between January and September this year, 40 fewer than the same period in 2020.

The resignations were first reported by The Daily Record, which said Prof Matheson and Mr Richardson had stood down after being asked to produce a report on reforms by the summer.

In a resignation letter, they said: "We have always understood the need for urgency but we feel the current demand for speed is counterproductive and driven by other factors such as meeting targets, rather than achieving the sustainable change evidence shows is more effective."

Drugs policy minister Angela Constance said that she regretted the fact that Prof Matheson and Mr Richardson had resigned but thanked them for their "hard work and commitment".

She told BBC Scotland's Drivetime programme: "The taskforce has undertaken wide-ranging and very important work to help inform us on how best to turn the tide on rising drug deaths in Scotland.

"But I am clear that as we come to the end of the first year of the national mission and look ahead to what's next, we need to have an increased focus on implementation and delivery on the ground."

She said that was why she had asked the taskforce "to make its recommendations earlier than anticipated".

'Pick up the pace'


"Drug deaths in Scotland is our other public health emergency and we do need to move further but we also need to move faster," she told the programme.

"I think I was very fair and very clear with my expectations. We need to be continuously challenging ourselves and others to pick up the pace.

"We need to be doing more, doing it better and doing it faster."

She added that she would speak to the other taskforce members before updating parliament as soon as possible in the new year.

Ms Constance said that the recent quarterly statistics had shown a slight fall in suspected drug-related deaths.

But she added: "It is clear there is still an urgent need to implement changes that will make a real and tangible difference to people's lives."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
×