Drug deaths drop but Scotland still worst in Europe
Campaigners have warned the drop in drug deaths in Scotland could be a blip as dangerous new substances are becoming more available on the streets.
Official statistics from the Scottish Government show there were 1,017 drug misuse deaths registered in Scotland, a decrease of 13% (155 deaths) compared with 2023 but that figure still ranks as the worst in Europe.
Synthetic opioids or nitazenes are becoming more commonplace to the extent they are replacing heroin but with even more deadly effects, campaigners warn.
When mixed with other drugs such as street Valium, they can prove deadly.
Last year, the most common drugs implicated in fatalities were opiates and opioids (present in 80% of deaths), benzodiazepines (56%) and cocaine (47%).
Annemarie Ward, of the charity Faces and Voices of Recovery UK, said drugs have become normalised while Kirsten Horsburgh of the Scottish Drugs Forum said: "There's no doubt that cuts to funding in this area reduces the amounts of services that people can access, reduces the staff that are able to support people and results in deaths."
There were 191 drug misuse deaths per million people in Scotland in 2024 after adjustments made for age.
The next highest rate was Estonia with 135 deaths per million in 2023.
However experts fear about the potential for deaths to increase again this year.
Louise Stewart, director for Scotland at WithYou, said while the report shows treatment and harm reduction approaches are beginning to make a difference, the loss of 1,017 lives in 2024 makes it clear that much more must be done.
She said that to halt Scotland’s drugs crisis in its tracks, two key areas must be prioritised.
“First, ensuring people understand their human rights, so that they know what support is available to them and how to access it.
“Secondly, we must turn our focus to prevention. The Scottish Government needs to take ambitious and far-reaching action now to stop today’s children and young people from becoming tragic statistics in reports 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
“For me, that means taking a whole-population approach to tackling the deep-rooted health inequalities that drive harmful drug use.
“Only by improving the quality of life in our most deprived communities can we protect future generations and create lasting change.”
"When government ministers talk about treatment in Scotland, what they're talking about is harm reduction," she said.
"When the general public hears the word treatment, they're thinking detox, rehab, people getting on with their lives."
Annmarie Ward also wants a shift away from NHS provision of drugs services in favour of third sector provision of rehabilitation and recovery.
"Our treatment system is delivered through the public sector, which means it's incredibly bureaucratic. So you can't just walk into a service and get seen that day, for instance, the way you can in England."
Drugs and alcohol policy minister Maree Todd said: “There is still work to be done. My heartfelt condolences go to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through drugs.”
