Drug-related deaths in Scotland reach highest level since current records began

There were almost 1,200 drugs-related deaths in Scotland last year – the highest level since current records began.

Official statistics released on Tuesday reveal the drugs death rate in Scotland is higher than that reported for any other EU country.

In what the Scottish government described as an “emergency”, there were 1,187 drugs-related deaths in the country in 2018, an increase of 27% from the year before.

This is the highest level since current records began in 1996, when 244 drugs-related deaths were recorded, and more than double the 2008 figure of 574, the National Records of Scotland figures revealed.

The statistics also suggest Scotland’s drugs death rate, per head of population, is almost three times that of the UK as a whole.

Most of the increase in drugs-related deaths occurred in the 35 to 44-year-old and 45 to 54-year-old age groups.

Males accounted for 72% of drugs-related deaths in Scotland in 2018.

However, comparing the percentage increase in the number of drugs-related deaths between 2014 and 2018 with that for 2004 and 2008, reveals the rise was greater for females (212%) than for males (75%).

Of the 1,187 deaths in 2018, heroin and/or morphine were implicated in, or potentially contributed to, the cause of 537 deaths (45% of the total).

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Methadone, often prescribed as a substitute for heroin in treatment for addiction, was implicated in, or potentially contributed to, 560 deaths (47%).

Benzodiazepines, sedatives used for both sleeping problems and anxiety, were implicated in, or potentially contributed to, 792 deaths (67%) – of which most involved the use of “street” benzodiazepines (such as etizolam) – while “prescribable” benzodiazepines (such as diazepam) were in a minority of cases.

Cocaine, ecstasy-type drugs and amphetamines were implicated in, or potentially contributed to, 273 deaths (23%), 35 deaths (3%), and 46 deaths (4%) respectively; with alcohol a suggested factor in 156 deaths (13%).

More than one drug was implicated in, or contributed to, many of the total deaths, with most drugs-related deaths relating to people who took more than one substance.

One third (33%) of the drugs-related deaths last year were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board area, where 394 died.

Lothian, which saw 152 deaths, had the next highest total followed by Lanarkshire (130), Tayside (109), Grampian (92) and Ayrshire and Arran (82).

The SNP’s Joe FitzPatrick, Scotland’s public health minister, said the country faced an “emergency” over the issue.

“The number of people who have lost their lives because of drug use is shocking,” he added.

“It is vital this tragedy is treated as a public health issue, and we are prepared to take innovative and bold measures in order to save the lives of those most at risk.”

Mr FitzPatrick also called for help in “persuading the UK government to either act now to enable us to implement a range of public health focused responses – including the introduction of supervised drug consumption facilities – or devolve the power to the Scottish parliament so that we can act”.

Earlier this month, Mr FitzPatrick appointed Professor Catriona Matheson as chair of a new task force which will advise on what further changes, in practice or in law, could help save lives and reduce harm.

She said: “My thoughts go out to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones.

“These figures bring the scale of the problem we face in Scotland into sharp focus. The need for urgent action is clear and the task force gives us a mechanism to do that.

“It is imperative that the task force identifies ways in which we can do more to save the lives of those who are most at risk and we will look carefully at what has worked in other parts of the UK and internationally to ensure we apply strong evidence-based practice.”

Annie Wells MSP, the Scottish Conservatives’ public health spokeswoman, said: “The crisis in relation to drugs-related deaths in Scotland should now be a number one concern for this SNP government.

“On its watch, these fatalities – all of which are avoidable – have more than doubled since it came to power.

“The SNP has had control over health and justice for 12 years, yet hasn’t managed to bring in anything that comes close to dealing with this problem.

“As these figures show, whatever drugs strategies it has adopted have only made things worse.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Drug-related deaths in Scotland reach highest level since current records began