When it comes to tackling the impact of problematic substance use on human health, there remains little to celebrate. The Government motion today notes, and I quote, 

'the progress being made in tackling the harms associated with substance misuse.'

But the report actually demonstrates the opposite of progress. The data suggests that a social catastrophe has emerged in our country in recent years, and I don't use that term lightly. A few weeks ago, I raised with the First Minister the fact that drug-related deaths had reached a record high of 168 in 2015. The report that we're debating today shows that, in 2016, drug-related deaths reached a new record of 192. Alcohol-related deaths have also increased to 504, as noted in the amendment in the name of Paul Davies. And these statistics reinforce, I'm sure, what many of us are hearing from drugs organisations, charities, our police and crime commissioners, and from my former colleagues in the probation service. Add it to the homelessness crisis, which, of course, is linked to austerity and benefit reform, and we've got a situation that is creating a harrowing cost to our society, to our public services, to our communities and to human life. 

Many of the drug and alcohol-related deaths are of people who are street homeless. We have the powers over homelessness, of course, but we have to be clear that some of the policy levers needed to fully solve the problematic substance use problem are not yet devolved. The word 'yet' is important here. We need to have the attitude that the powers to address problematic substance use are needed in Wales, and that holding those powers at Westminster is time-limited. This Assembly and the Welsh Government is responsible for public health, for homelessness prevention, and for some aspects of community safety. For as long as justice, welfare and social security powers are held back at Westminster, a fully joined-up approach will be impossible. 

We haven't always had a forward-thinking attitude from the current Welsh Government on the devolution of justice, social security and related fields. But I believe that there is potential to change that. And we must change that, because these figures paint a stark and harrowing picture. Now, I support the Plaid Cymru amendment today—well, I suppose I would, wouldn't I, but because it's a matter of principle that substance use is a public health issue and not a criminal justice issue, and I'm glad that the Government is prepared to support that too. But we need to go further. We need the powers over the criminal justice system to reform drug policies. One thing, for example, that I'd like to see is for people with multiple sclerosis and other conditions to able to legally use cannabis, but we can't do that because we don't have the powers. But, even without the powers over criminal justice, we could still have an impact on reducing the numbers of deaths from drug use if public health solutions were implemented. One of those solutions is being advocated by Arfon Jones, the north Wales police and crime commissioner, who's become one of the most progressive voices on justice policy in Wales. He's earned respect from right across the political spectrum for his stance on treating people who have problems with illegal drugs as humans and not as criminals. 

Only a few years ago, this standpoint was seen as extreme and radical, but now it's becoming accepted in countries right across Europe. Arfon has proposed that suitably located, safe injecting facilities could reduce drug deaths, drug-related crime, and public drug use. This approach has been implemented in Switzerland, combined with other public health measures, and it has reduced drug-related deaths. In Portugal, decriminalisation of some drugs, combined with prevention and treatment programmes, has had a similar effect. Last year, there were fewer drug deaths in Portugal, a country of more than 10 million people, than in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea, with a population of less than 1 million people.

Just as public health measures are seen as the way of reducing harm from alcohol, they should also be used to reduce the harm from drugs. And it's worth noting here that not everyone who drinks alcohol will develop a problem, and the same goes with drugs. And that has to be a starting point, so that we can focus on reducing harm from problematic use.

Let's not look back in years to come and regret more lives, more heartbroken families, because of short-sighted and ineffective drug policies. Let's forge a new, bold approach to this problem in Wales—let's start with saving lives.