Nicola Sturgeon has been challenged over the lack of access to rehab for people with acute drug addiction.

Conservative leader, Douglas Ross, highlighted the case of a man in Glasgow, raised with him by campaign group Favor Scotland, who has been trying to get access to rehab for two years but has been told he is not a suitable candidate, and he asked Nicola Sturgeon to look at his case.

Ross told the First Minister: “This man is at deaths door. His only hope is private rehab.

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“This case is shocking and it’s been repeated across the country.

“How much longer do we have to wait?”

Sturgeon said that it was not for her to decide on who is suitable for rehab.

She said: “I will look at the detail if it can be passed to me. It’s not for me with no clinical background to decide if an individual is appropriate for rehab. No everyone is deemed to benefit from rehabilitation.

“If somebody could benefit from rehab, they should get that.”

The exchange comes after a report published showed a massive rise int eh number of people who required admission to hospital for drug treatment.

Campaigners have been calling for more residential rehab beds across the country as a response tot the rising drug deaths to record levels in Scotland, to the worst in western Europe.

Glasgow Times:

Ross said: “People on the frontline have been here before hearing the same promised and warm words but seeing family and friends dying.”

The First Minister said that there was more work needed on drug policy and treatment options.

She said: “I do accept we are not yet at the place we want to be in terms of drug treatment and drugs rehab. There are a few things the government is serious about doing.

“I don’t think notwithstanding our efforts we have not yet brought forward a package that is sufficient to tackle the problem we face.”