THE amount of Scots who died due to drug misuse has increased in 2023, according to latest statistics published by National Records of Scotland.
A total of 1172 people died, which is an increase of 121 deaths compared with 2022.
The figure is below the record high of 1339 deaths which was recorded in 2020.
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That being said, drug misuse deaths are more common than they were in 2000. After adjusting for age, the rate of drug misuse deaths were 4.2 times as high in 2023 than 2000.
Here are some other key points from this latest release of drug death statistics.
What areas are most affected?
People in the most deprived areas of Scotland are more than 15 times as likely to die from drug misuse compared to people in the least deprived areas.
Glasgow City and Dundee City had the highest rates of drug misuse deaths while East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire had the lowest.
Who is most affected?
The average age of drug misuse deaths has increased from 32 to 45 since 2000.
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The figures show that men were twice as likely to have a drug misuse death as females. Most of the increase in the past year was also due to male deaths.
Which drugs are most to blame?
Opiates and opioids, including heroin, morphine and methadone were implicated in 80% of all deaths.
Almost nine out of 10 drug misuse deaths were classified as accidental poisonings, with 7% classed as intentional self-poisonings.
How does Scotland compare to other parts of the UK?
The rate of drug poisoning deaths in Scotland was more than double the rates of other UK countries in 2022.
The rate was 2.7 times as high as the rates for England and Northern Ireland, and 2.1 times as high as the rate in Wales. The data for 2023 across the UK is not yet available.
Is this a large increase?
The longer term trend shows that drug misuse deaths are much more common than they were over two decades ago.
Today's figures are the second lowest number of drug misuse deaths since 2017, with 2022 seeing the lowest. But it still represents a very worrying and tragic development.
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