A “shocking and shameful” rise in the number of drug deaths in Scotland has been confirmed in figures published today.
A total of 1,172 people lost their lives to drugs in 2023 in Scotland, a rise of 121 from the previous year’s total of 1,051 deaths.
The “heartbreaking” increase means that Scotland continues to have the worst drug death rate in Europe and that over 14,000 people in Scotland have now lost their lives to drugs since the SNP Government came to power.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross says the latest “awful” figures highlight the urgent need for John Swinney and the SNP Government to finally throw their weight behind the Right to Recovery Bill.
The bill – which Douglas formally introduced to the Scottish Parliament alongside FAVOR UK CEO Annemarie Ward in May – would enshrine in law a right to rehabilitation treatment for all those who need it.
Douglas says the rise in deaths shows the SNP’s approach is “simply not working” and the legacy of Nicola Sturgeon “taking her eye off the ball” on tackling Scotland’s drug deaths crisis is continuing to harm the most vulnerable communities.
He added that behind the statistics are 1,172 families who are grieving the loss of a loved one and that his thoughts are with them all today.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “These figures are shocking and shameful. Drug deaths continue to be Scotland’s national shame on the SNP’s watch.
“Behind this heartbreaking increase in drug deaths are families grieving the loss of loved ones and my thoughts are with all of them.
“Scotland’s drug deaths rate is by far the worst in Europe and the SNP’s approach is simply not working. Several years ago Nicola Sturgeon admitted she took her eye off the ball on tackling this emergency but deaths have continued to increase since then.
“That legacy is still causing huge harm in our most deprived areas, where people living in those communities are 15 times more likely to die than those in the least deprived areas.
“These awful statistics highlight yet again the urgent need for John Swinney and the SNP Government to finally give their backing to the Right to Recovery Bill. I will be making that point with him when we meet next month to discuss the Bill.
“If passed it would enshrine in law a right to treatment for all those who need it, including residential rehab, and was written in conjunction with leading experts and has widespread support.
“SNP ministers must stop dithering otherwise more people will die and families will suffer the pain of losing a loved one to drugs.
“They must respond to these latest figures by confirming that when Parliament returns, the Right to Recovery Bill will become law as soon as possible.”
Notes to editors:
In 2023 there were 1,172 deaths due to drug misuse in Scotland. This is 121 more deaths than in 2022 and the second lowest number of drug misuse deaths since 2017. The rate of drug misuse deaths is still much higher than at the beginning of the series in 1996. (National Records of Scotland, 20 August 2024, link).
Death rates remain linked to deprivation. In 2023, people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland were more than 15 times as likely to die from drug misuse than in the least deprived areas. 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. The association of deprivation with drug misuse deaths is much greater than with other causes of death. (National Records of Scotland, 20 August 2024, link).
The Right to Recovery Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 14 May by Douglas Ross: https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/right-to-addiction-recovery-scotland-bill/introduced
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. This is the most recent year that data is available for across the UK. (National Records of Scotland, 20 August 2024, link).
The drug deaths during the SNP’s years in power are here:
2007 – 455
2008 – 574
2009 – 545
2010 – 485
2011 – 584
2012 – 581
2013 – 527
2014 – 614
2015 – 706
2016 – 868
2017 – 934
2018 – 1187
2019 – 1264
2020 – 1339
2021 – 1330
2022 – 1051
2023 – 1172
Total – 14,232