In an effort to address the rising drug death crisis, the Scottish government has initiated a people’s panel consisting of 25 randomly selected individuals from across the nation. This panel, deemed broadly representative of the Scottish population, is tasked with evaluating and proposing innovative solutions to reduce drug-related harms. With drug-related deaths reaching 1,172 last year, an increase from the previous year, the panel aims to explore the question: “What does Scotland need to do differently to reduce drug-related harms?” Over two weekends, participants will engage with experts, including those from Community Justice Scotland and the Scottish Drugs Forum, to gather insights and develop actionable recommendations.
The people’s panel’s findings will inform the Scottish parliament’s committees on Criminal Justice, Health, Social Care, and Sport, as well as Social Justice and Social Security. These committees will utilise the panel’s insights to enhance current strategies and hold the government accountable in tackling the drug crisis. Conveners of the respective committees emphasise the importance of this grassroots involvement in shaping policies that address the urgent issues of drug-related deaths and harms. For further details, visit Health and Care Scotland.
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