Suspected drug deaths in Scotland have fallen by eight per cent but rise in female fatalities

But estimated data from Police Scotland has revealed the number of suspected deaths reduced from 1,411 in 2020 to 1,295 in 2021. There is roughly a five or six per cent margin between the suspected and confirmed drug death figures, based on the last three years of data.

Police Scotland management information counts the number of deaths the police suspect involved illicit drugs while the NRS data uses death registrations, information from the Crown Office and forensic pathologists.

Of the 2021 suspected drug deaths, there was a three per cent increase in the number of females dying due to drugs – making up 356 fatalities in total.

Males accounted for 73% of suspected drug deaths – a 3 percentage point decrease on the previous year while more than two thirds of suspected drug deaths were of people aged between 35 and 54 years old.

READ MORE: Scotland's drug deaths: 1,339 Scots died in 2020 after drugs misuse

A Scottish Government report setting out the new statistics warns that despite the eight per cent annual decrease, “suspected drug deaths remain at a high level and there continues to be an upward trend over the period for which data is available”.

In 2018, there were 1,257 suspected drug deaths in Scotland, which increased to 1,356 in 2019 and then 1,411 in 2020 – with the estimates figures for last year bucking the rising trend.

SNP Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said: “I want to extend my deepest sympathy to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through drugs. I know that despite this decline in the number of suspected drug deaths, the figure is still far too high and, as I have said before there is much hard work to be done to turn this public health emergency around.

“Getting people into the treatment which works for them is key and we continue to embed the new medication-assisted treatment (MAT) standards which reinforce a rights-based approach for people who use drugs and the treatment they should expect regardless of their circumstances.

READ MORE: SNP ministers urged to draw up plan to cut drug and drink deaths

“We also aim to increase the number of publicly funded residential rehabilitation placements by more than 300 per cent over the lifetime of this Parliament and I will also shortly be announcing a target to increase the number of people in treatment.”

She added: “There has been a slight increase in the number of deaths among females and we are committed to tackling the barriers which prevent women from accessing treatment, support and recovery. One of our priorities is to develop and increase women-specific services, and services to keep children and families together.

“I am determined that the £250 million we are investing in tackling this public health emergency will make a difference and we will continue to prioritise our efforts to turn this crisis around.”

The Scottish LibDems have called on the Scottish Government to move further and faster to tackle drugs deaths.

Party leader and health spokesperson, Alex Cole-Hamilton, said: "These aren’t just numbers, they are actual people. Each one represents a human tragedy and a family in mourning.

"Scotland's performance on drugs has been truly terrible, particularly in many of our poorest and most deprived neighbourhoods. That must change."

He added: "When it comes to drug-related deaths, Scotland is the worst in Europe. This is a crisis of international significance. It’s why I’ve called for a specialised WHO taskforce, made up of leading experts in drug mortality, to help get to grips this particularly Scottish epidemic.

"Scotland clearly needs to go further and faster. We also need a watertight strategy focused on diverting people at risk into treatment and education instead of prison, fast access support for them and their families and accessible drug testing.”