THE NUMBER of drug deaths fell in West Dunbartonshire last year at the same time as they rose to their highest levels ever in Scotland.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said the local figures were encouraging but “twelve deaths from drugs is still twelve deaths too many.”

Across the country, 706 people died as a result of drug abuse, the most ever, according to National Records of Scotland figures. It is a 15 per cent rise on 2014.

West Dunbartonshire still has a higher proportion of drug-related deaths per population than Scotland.

However, 12 people in West Dunbartonshire died in 2015, seven less than 2014 and nearly approaching the area's record low in recent years of eight in 2013.

Ms Baillie said: “This reduction is a clear sign that the hard work and dedication of staff in the voluntary sector and the Community Health and Care Partnership is making a real difference in the fight against the misery caused by addiction in our local communities.

“The multi-agency approach from groups like Alternatives working together with the Council and the NHS is producing encouraging results but twelve deaths from drugs is still twelve deaths too many. Behind each one of these deaths lies a devastated family and we need to keep building on the progress we have made.

“As well as providing targeted support to help addicts break their habits we also need a stronger focus on catching those responsible for peddling drugs on our streets.

“The revelations this week from a Police Scotland whistle-blower that officers are being told to stop investigating drug-dealers because of an overtime ban are extremely worrying. We need to deal with the problem at its source and that requires an adequately funded police force.”

Activist group Addaction Scotland were “deeply concerned” about the country-wide trend.

A spokesperson said: “In our experience, as the largest independent provider of drug and alcohol services in Scotland, the people sadly dying tend to be older drug users with poor physical and mental health issues.  “As drug deaths rise, the provision of fixed site needle exchanges has fallen.  These were often the entry point for people to engage in treatment. Indeed we welcome plans to pilot and evaluate drug consumption rooms as part of a renewed harm reduction approach.”