John Swinney has thrown his support behind decriminalising drugs for personal use in response to a spike in drug-related deaths in Scotland.
The latest statistics show Scotland has retained its unwanted status of being the drug death capital of Europe, with 1,133 fatalities linked to illicit substances last year, an increase of 11% on 2024's total.
While the First Minister said the figures were "unacceptable and intolerable", opposition leaders branded Swinney's record "indefensible".
Any decriminalisation of drugs in Scotland would need to be approved by the UK government which has control over drugs policy.
During First Minister's Questions, Swinney cited "intergenerational poverty and trauma" and an "upsurge in grossly harmful synthetics" as reasons for the rise in deaths.
And speaking to BBC Scotland News afterwards, Swinney confirmed his government would be supportive of decriminalising drugs so that possessing drugs for personal use would no longer be a criminal offence.
Such a move, he said, could form part of a range of measures to offer "more control and ability to provide greater support to those affected by drugs use".