Scotland's shocking drug-death figures belie the hope that the 'Trainspotting generation' was a one-off – Kenny MacAskill

The drug death figures are once again catastrophic. The hope that was had a decade ago that it was an aberration caused by a “Trainspotting generation” has evaporated.
A mother grieves for her son, a recovering drug addict, who died of a heart attack (Picture: Habibur Rahman)A mother grieves for her son, a recovering drug addict, who died of a heart attack (Picture: Habibur Rahman)
A mother grieves for her son, a recovering drug addict, who died of a heart attack (Picture: Habibur Rahman)

Every year it’s simply got worse and the heirs and successors to that group are now following them into an early and tragic grave.

Some will shrug the figures off and, whilst regretting their passing, say it was self-inflicted. A few will not even be as kind and simply say they brought it on themselves.

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Most will see the headlines but be oblivious to the pain and sadness caused. For most of the dead lived on the margins of our society, unnoticed except perhaps when treated with derision or scorn, sometimes even fear or contempt.

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But they’re human beings and our kith and kin who have fallen by the wayside, often falling victim as a result of trauma or hardship which caused them to succumb. They are someone’s son or daughter, mother or father, and long before they became the tragic figure that passed, they had hope, spark and both gave and received love and joy.

Earlier this week, I was speaking to a mother whose son is struggling with these demons, as she seeks to get the scarce help that’s available to save her boy.

The lad of now isn’t how he was or how she sees him. With my wife caring for a friend’s toddler, I’ve been minded of the joy of simply watching them, where everything’s new and wonderous.

This mother will cherish those moments, not just recall recent pain, and some child likewise will have memories, of a parent who smiled benignly and loved them dearly, even if they couldn’t sustain it.

Moving drug policy from justice to health was a start. It’s categorisation but the actions that government departments take matter.

But as well as viewing them as troubled souls needing help, we need to do more.

The residential care to save this young man must be available and harassment of those seeking to help individuals that the rest of us avoid must end. These are our people.

Kenny MacAskill is the SNP MP for East Lothian

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