Analysis reveals families and communities impacted by drug-related deaths in Scotland
First published on 08 October 2024
- Drugs
A review which analysed the circumstances of each person who experienced a drug related death in Scotland in 2019 and 2020 has been published by Public Health Scotland.
Since 2018, Scotland has consecutively had the highest rate of drug related deaths in Europe.
The National Drug Related Deaths Database contains information on a wide range of aspects of people’s health and social circumstances, and the circumstances of their death, from a diverse range of sources.
Findings from the database provide a detailed picture of those who died as a result of a drug overdose during the report period.
In 2020, drug related deaths were more prevalent among people who lived in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, half of the people who died lived in Scotland’s 20% most deprived neighbourhoods.
Many families were impacted, with 602 children losing a parent or parental figure to a drug related death in 2020.
Where known, three out of four people who had a drug related death were reported to be living in their own home.
Nearly a third of people who had a drug related death had been discharged from a general acute hospital within six months of death.
Dr Tara Shivaji, Consultant at Public Health Scotland, said:
“This report is hugely important for improving our understanding of the individual people who have sadly lost their lives to a preventable drug overdose in Scotland. The scale of the issue is often represented as a statistic, but we know each person represents much more than this. They are mothers, fathers, son, daughters, siblings, friends and colleagues.
“Through this report, we can paint a picture of the circumstances that are potentially driving the ongoing drug-related death crisis and recognise high-risk scenarios and trends when people are particularly vulnerable. For example, when a person is discharged from hospital. With this information, we can identify if there is more we can do to intervene and prevent these deaths from occurring.”