Scotland's drug deaths careered out of control largely due to a lack of funding.
Dreadful policy decisions around prescribing did not help.
Our government sat and watched as an illicit drug trade found an ever-growing market.
The announcement of a £250 million war chest over five years, announced a year ago, should have marked a massive leap forward in getting people into treatment.
But cash on the table has come with some unwanted and unhelpful side effects.
Today’s Record reveals once more the disharmony that exists among those who have dedicated much of their lives to tackling drug addiction in Scotland.
We have made it clear that tackling the worst drug-death rate in Europe should be about delivering a broad range of services and treatment models.
Arguments laid down today, for right or wrong, are leaning back into the thorny issue of whether or not residential rehab works.
It remains unclear if drugs minister Angela Constance or any other government official acted improperly in influencing the decisions made in the awarding of funding by the Corra Foundation.
But the complaints by Professor Catriona Matheson should be taken seriously.
Any procedures for awards should be followed to the letter and any organisation accepting substantial grants should be able to robustly demonstrate they can deliver the goods.
While in the grip of an ongoing emergency, the background noise offers little other than a spanner in the works.
What do you think of this story? Share your views in the comments section.
It’s a Holmes win
Mark Holmes is helping to change lives in Africa through football.
The former professional player is giving youngsters a chance to thrive and not just in the sport they love.
Youths such as Albert, who walked 100 miles to be part of one of his three football academy sites, is being given access to an education.
He is one of 80 kids who live in accommodation provided by the academy and is given three meals a day.
Mark, whose own career was cut short by injury, knows that most won’t fulfil their dream of becoming professional players.
But what he is doing is providing an opportunity for desperately poor young people to get the best possible start in life.
Mark Holmes deserves great credit for making a difference to the lives of these children through the power of the beautiful game.
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