Police Scotland is introducing roadside testing kits for drug driving in East Ayrshire and Aberdeen, following a pilot in Shetland.
Kirsten Horsburgh, Chief Executive of Scottish Drugs Forum, says: “We understand that people are deeply concerned about drug driving, and we recognise that Police Scotland wants to test drivers for drugs with the same immediacy as they can for alcohol.
“However, it’s essential that testing is accurate and fair. These kits can detect trace levels of drugs long after any impairment has passed, meaning people risk penalties even when they pose no danger. When enforcement focuses on presence and not risk, it can become a punitive process that upends lives without making our roads safer.
“Research published by Public Health Scotland earlier this month shows that referrals to community-based drug treatment services have fallen by around a third compared with 2019. This is deeply worrying, as it suggests that fewer people are getting the help they need.
“To truly keep our roads and communities safe, we need to ensure that roadside testing is accompanied by a system for referrals for treatment, so that people who use drugs can access support quickly, compassionately, and without stigma.”