The number of people in Dumfries and Galloway suspected of having died due to substance misuse remains at near record levels.
New figures show that 43 people are believed to have lost their lives to drugs in 2022 – one less than the previous year.
Galloway and West Dumfries MSP, Finlay Carson is calling for new ways to tackling the problem in the region.
He said: “It is clear that the one size fits all approach is working in the central belt but not in rural communities and this needs to be addressed as quickly as possible.
“It is disappointing that the latest figure of suspected drug deaths is unacceptably high and greater efforts must be forthcoming from the Scottish Government to seriously tackle the problem.”
The Scottish Government published the latest suspected drugs death figures on Tuesday.
They are compiled with Police Scotland “on the basis of reports from police officers attending scenes of death”.
In the final three months of 2022, there were 12 suspected drugs deaths in Dumfries and Galloway, taking the annual total to 43.
The highest figure recorded in the region under new measures was 44 in 2021.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “Cuts in funding for rehab a few years ago are still taking a heavy toll, and just with any disease, we urgently need to see more investment to treat what is ultimately a health crisis.
“Unless we tackle the underlying causes of this disease such as poverty, poor housing, and the shocking education attainment gap, then we will fail to get to grips on the crisis.”
Figures from National Records of Scotland use information from death certificates and information from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, rather than police observations.
A Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership spokesman said: “The local drug related death review group examine all the suspected drug deaths.
“While the police suspected deaths for 2022 are 43, this will not necessarily be the final official confirmed figure which will be published by NRS in the summer. Some of these suspected deaths will not be drug-related and may be a medical death.
“There is ongoing work across Dumfries and Galloway to roll out the naloxone programme. We Are With You are leading on the peer naloxone project which uses people with lived experience to train and supply others with naloxone.
“Police Scotland have been provided nasal naloxone kits to use out in the community should they come across someone who has overdosed.
“The assertive outreach project, which is a joint NHS and Third Sector initiative, provides support to those who have had a near fatal overdose to provide them with naloxone kits and harm reduction information and sign posting into services.”
Drug policy minister, Angela Constance, said: “The numbers we are seeing are still far too high and we remain focused on our ongoing efforts to get more people into the form of treatment which works best for them.”
