With You responds to new Scottish drug-related death stats

Today the National Records of Scotland published new statistics showing the number of people who died of a drug related cause in the country during the calendar year of 2021.

The topline figures from the data are as follows:

• 1,330 people lost their lives to drug misuse in Scotland in 2021
• The number is 1% lower than 2020 which makes it the first year since 2013 in which drug misuse deaths have not increased. However, it is still the second highest annual total on record.
• 65% of all drug-related deaths were of people aged between 35 and 54 and more than two thirds (70%) were men.
• Dundee City had the highest age-standardised drug misuse death rate of all local authority areas (45.2 per 100,000 population for the 5-year period 2017-2021), followed by Glasgow City (44.4) and Inverclyde (35.7).
• Of all drug misuse deaths in 2021, 84% involved opiates or opioids (such as heroin, morphine and methadone). 69% involved benzodiazepines (such as diazepam and etizolam).

Rosie McLuskie, Director of Services at drug, alcohol and mental health charity With You says:

“The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland remains at crisis levels. We are losing more than three people every day, with each death sending ripples through families and communities, leaving children without parents and partners bereaved. Every one of these deaths is preventable.

“Behind the deaths are stories of people who have experienced extreme trauma and difficult life circumstances. This crisis is a complex, deep-rooted problem with no easy answer or quick fix, but we know that every person can recover with the right support.

“We are absolutely committed as an organisation to do everything we can to reduce these preventable deaths.

We continue to roll out the trauma informed and harm reduction elements of the Medication Assisted Treatment standards at pace, train all our staff in talking therapies, improve access to naloxone, increase our outreach capacity, and work with grassroots/recovery organisations to support people to grow their social networks. But there needs to be a transformational change in how the system works and how money is spent to make it easier and humane for people to access support and treatment. We need to get people on the right treatment pathway much more quickly and for those that require medication assisted treatment, on the optimal dose that will work for them. With so many deaths involving both opiates, benzos, and now cocaine, we are ensuring our services respond to the changes in people’s drug taking behaviours and drugs of choice.

“Though the recent Government investment is welcome and we are starting to move in the right direction, we all need to do more. A united national effort to tackle this crisis is the only way we can really make a difference.

“I know our service users, staff and volunteers are deeply affected by the deaths of people they love and work so hard to support. Our thoughts are with them on this difficult day. Whether you need advice for yourself or to support a loved one, visit www.wearewithyou.org.uk where you can speak online to a trained advisor for free and confidential advice.”