Last year, after record numbers of people died in drug related deaths, the Scottish Government set up a Drugs Death Task Force.

It was a response to a tragedy that has hit Glasgow harder than most cities and one which was intended to get a collection of brains together to come up with ways to stop people dying.

Last July we learned that 290 people had died in Glasgow in a drug related death, 1187 across Scotland.

One year on and the Task Force has published its annual report.

One year on, and while there are no figures available this year, no one is suggesting anything other than another increase to a new record high number of deaths.

There are no figures because of a dispute about toxicology services, which itself needs action to resolve that has not been forthcoming.

The task force was brought together as people and organisations who were thought to have the expertise and knowledge to propose solutions.

One year on, and the big news from the task force it is has announced the Scottish Government is spending money asking other academics to carry out research into various aspects of drug policy.

One million pounds of taxpayer money for ten projects to end up as reports on a shelf to add to the countless reports that lie forgotten on shelves in universities and government offices.

One of the research projects is into perceptions and attitudes towards drug consumption rooms.

A study has just been published on that which says, when it is explained fully, Drug Consumptions Rooms have public support.

The Home Office accepts the evidence that it will have benefits both for drug users and communities where public injecting takes place.

Only ideology and fear of alienating ‘law and order’ voters is preventing it from endorsing them.

We don’t need another study. We need those with the power to do so to open one in this city, prove to those who are sceptical it works and challenge the Home Office on its pig headedness.

The other news was a strategy to tackle stigma faced by people addicted to drugs.

Stigma doesn’t help, and it most certainly exists with people blamed for their addiction, with no consideration of circumstances.

But it is the drugs that are killing people in their hundreds, now.

We need greater action and resources into programmes that will actually help those who are ready to receive it, to stop taking drugs.

The Task Force chair said that it has been reviewing evidence and putting plans into action.

But there is no action. Certainly not any urgent action that is needed to prevent more people being buried.

The report mentions “Some of the achievements” of the task force.

But there are no achievements. When people are dying in this city in their hundreds and across Scotland at a rate of two dozen a week there can be no achievement.

The task force has set out a number of priorities over the next three months, six months and 12 months.

The work of the task force focuses on Naloxone, Medical Assisted Treatment and public health surveillance.

None of which is new.

It talks about more data collection, information flows and “setting out a plan” to be “implemented in a sustainable manner”.

Priorities for 12 months time include “make recommendations regarding any necessary changes in agency guidance or statutory regulation”.

In that 12 months another 1200 people, or likely more, will have died.

The last 12 months since the task force was announced nothing meaningful has happened and for every month nothing has happened 100 people have died.

The task force was set up to provide answers and it has provided none so far.

It is truly a tragedy of our time and a scandal that has not been given the attention it deserves by any government.

And so far it is difficult to see that the Drug Death Task Force has done anything to change that.

A number of people are opposed to providing a name and contact number if they go to a pub, cafe or restaurant.

They talk about privacy, personal freedom and end not to believe that lockdown was necessary.

The First Minister said it being considered if it will be the law that trace and trace details are collected.

It absolutely should be.

Everywhere you go and every time you spend money using a credit or debit card you are handing over personal information which is obtained by companies you don’t even know exist.

We are the most monitored generation ever.

At least this data harvesting is for the benefit of all of our health.

If any pub or restaurant owner is unwilling to collect the data then they should be closed.

And if any customer refuses to provide details they should simply be told to leave.

Preferably followed by “you’re barred”.