Jamie Greene, local Conservative candidate has criticised a proposal by the Liberal Democrats to decriminalise drugs after it emerged the NHS already spends millions handing out drug-taking equipment to users with a six figure sum being spent in North Ayrshire and Arran.
Freedom of Information research has revealed that the NHS in Scotland has spent more than £3 million since 2012/13 providing drugs paraphernalia.
That includes 6.3 million syringes and 5.8 million spoons, as well as items such as filters, foil and sharps bins.
Last weekend, Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said he wanted to ensure people caught using drugs were not dealt with by the law, but instead treated as "patients" by the NHS.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had the largest outlay, spending nearly £2 million in three years, whilst in Ayrshire and Arran £183,455 was spent on such items.
Mr Greene said “Whilst there is still a place for the NHS to ensure those dependent on drugs were kept safe, more focus should be concentrated on helping people beat their addiction. Nobody's saying the NHS should shut up shop and leave drug users to their own devices. There's definitely a place for health boards to ensure people dependent on drugs are kept safe.
However, people will be shocked at the sheer cost involved here, and would prefer to see a society that helped people beat drug addiction, rather than facilitate it.”
He continued “As for the Liberal Democrats' crazy plan to basically decriminalise all drugs, the burden on the NHS would be immense. That's not what people want from the NHS, particularly at a time of squeezed budgets from the Scottish government."