Mapping Out Scotland’s Drug Problem: An Analysis of Scotland’s Drug Policy on Drug Addiction and Crime

In this piece, I argue that the drug policies of successive governments have failed to address the complex reasons for Scotland’s drug crisis and that, in their failings, they have contributed to the problem. This essay will analyse the impact of drug policy on drug addiction and drug-related crime in Scotland. I will argue that the crisis began in the 1980s following the deindustrialisation of Scotland’s major industries that left a legacy of deeply-rooted socioeconomic disadvantage and that successfully tackling Scotland’s drug crisis cannot be done without addressing these inequalities. The essay will assess the impact of drug policy initiatives on drug-related deaths and drug-related crime. With around 80% of Scotland’s drug-related deaths linked to opioids and opiate use, this essay will be concerned with the misue of heroin, morphine and methadone. In demonstrating the shortcomings of past drug polices, I will discuss the importance of drug consumption rooms and the decriminalisation of drugs possession. Finally, I will conclude with a reflection of my thoughts of the drug crisis in relation to drug policy and how it may have changed throughout my research. The aim of this essay is to demonstrate how the combination of socioeconomic vulnerabilities and political failures has created the drug epidemic that is rife in Scotland.