More rehab beds must be funded and cuts to drug and alcohol services reversed if the drug death total is to be reduced a Glasgow MSP has said.

Annie Wells, Conservative MSP told the public health minister hundreds of residential beds have been cut.

Joe Fitzpatrick was responding to questions on tackling problem drug use after the UK government rejected the majority of recommendations of the Scottish Affairs Committee inquiry.

The minister had said he was “disappointed” in the UK Government response and said the problem needed a public health response not a criminal justice approach which he said was “hugely depressing”.

However Ms Wells challenged the Scottish Government on its approach and record on the matter.

She said: “In 2007, there were approximately 352 rehab beds in Scotland. In the 10 years since then, the number has dropped to fewer than 70—282 rehab beds have been cut under the Scottish Government.

“Surely, the first priority should be to increase the number of people accessing treatment and to reverse the cuts to the drug and alcohol partnerships that have been made by the Government?”

Ms Fitzpatrick said: “It is really important that we do not have the illusion that there is one silver bullet. All the support that we provide to people is important.

“That is why I have said previously to Parliament, and to the spokespeople when we have been discussing drugs, that we are looking at whether the pathways into rehabilitation are appropriate and properly accessible.”

Labour MSP Neil Findlay accused the Scottish Government of viewing problem drug use though a “constitutional lens” and asked it to take action where it could.

He said minister could act now on “the mental and physical health of drug users, residential rehab, policy co-ordination, care, policing and much more.”

Mr Fitzpatrick replied: “I have tried very hard not to look at the issue through a constitutional lens, but we have to realise and accept that there is an uncomfortable interface between the public health and justice approaches, both of which are devolved, and drugs legislation, which is reserved. There is no question but that that interface is making it difficult for us, here in Scotland, to take all the actions that we could take.”