Report

Harm, hardship, and the price of inaction

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation examines the costs of Scotland’s drug crisis.

Scotland has a drug problem. The issue is likely to be a key one in the upcoming Scottish elections. Questions of the costs of potential interventions, and how worthwhile they are, will be central to decisions made on future policy.

This report sets out the facts, by estimating the costs to the Scottish economy and the state of the drugs crisis. It also investigates measures that can be taken to alleviate the issue in both the short and long-term; ultimately advocating for a ‘full spectrum’ approach that delivers both harm reduction and the ability to rebuild livelihoods.