Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine has slammed Nicola Sturgeon over a failure to tackle Scotland's worsening drug crisis. The latest Scottish drug misuse figures have seen a record number of deaths for the seventh year in a row. Ms Jardine has warned that the Scottish Government's mishandling of the crisis has left many Scots "distraught" and told GB News most of Scotland was "furious."

       Ms Jardine told GB News: "You know there are no words which can convey how absolutely distraught and furious most of Scotland is at these figures.

       "To put it in context Nicola Sturgeon's comments before the election was that she had taken her eye off the ball on this issue.

       "Now you look at those figures, how condescending.

       "How patronising is that to families who have lost loved ones?!"

       "Yes, something needs to be done but you know what this is seven years this has been going on.

       "The route of this problem goes right back to 2014 just before the independence referendum.

       "When the then Justice Secretary for the SNP admitted that they had cut critical prevention services by 22 percent.

       "That is more than a fifth, nearly a quarter and since then, since 2014 we have had record year, on record year, on record year."

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       It comes just days after #ResignSturgeon trended on Twitter after new figures revealed 1,339 people in Scotland died of drug misuse last year.

       The Scottish First Minister has admitted the numbers are "shameful" and promised further action to tackle drug-related deaths in a post on social media.

       Ms Sturgeon penned: "The number of lives lost to drugs is unacceptable, each one a human tragedy.

       "Scottish Government does not shirk the responsibility & we are determined to make changes that will save lives.

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       "These 2020 figures (though no less shameful because of it) predate actions set out at start of year.”

       "We now have a dedicated drugs minister in Angela Constance, a substantial funding commitment and action underway to eg ensure faster access to community support, treatment and rehab," she continued.

       “We will also continue to argue for reform of drugs law, which is not currently within our power."

       The latest tally put Scotland higher than in any other European country for deaths attributed to drug misuse.