A new Public Health Scotland report has revealed a huge rise in drug-related hospital admissions in Lanarkshire.

The report, which monitors drug-related hospital admissions shows that between July and October last year, a total of 262 patients were admitted to a Lanarkshire hospital for drug-related harms.

This is a significant increase of 23 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

Central Scotland Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “It is devastating to see Scotland’s drug crisis ruin the lives of so many people in Lanarkshire.

“The people who are dying are our loved ones and neighbours and it doesn’t need to be this way.

“The SNP have been making this emergency worse, admitting that ministers dropped the ball and cut funding to lifeline services.

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