Drug-related hospital statistics
Scotland 2022 to 2023

About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information on hospital activity relating to illicit drug use in Scotland during the period 1996/97 to 2022/23. The topics covered include: the number of hospital stays, the number and characteristics of patients, substances used and geographical variations. These data are published in a full report and dashboard.

Main points

The chart shows the change in time between 1996/97 and 2022/23 in the rate of hospital stays in all hospitals, as well as the change in general acute hospitals and psychiatric hospitals. The current stay rate across all hospitals in 2022/23 is 182 stays per 100,000 population. There is an increase in all hospitals and in general acute hospitals over time, with a marked increase from 2012/13 to 2019/20, before decreases between 2020/21 and 2022/23. The number of psychiatric stays has remained relatively steady over the time series.

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Drug-related stay rates by hospital type (Scotland; 1996/97 to 2022/23)

In 2022/23:

• There were 9,663 drug-related hospital stays. The European Age-sex Standardised Rate (EASR) of drug-related hospital stays was 182 stays per 100,000 population. This rate decreased for a third consecutive year, from a peak of 283 per 100,000 population in 2019/20.
• The highest substance-specific stay rate (81 per 100,000 population) was for opioids (drugs similar to heroin). This rate decreased for a third consecutive year, from a peak of 141 per 100,000 population in 2019/20.
• The highest patient rate (337 per 100,000 population) was observed among people aged 35-44 years. This rate decreased for a third consecutive year, from a peak of 515 per 100,000 population in 2019/20.
• Just under half (48%) of the patients with a drug-related hospital stay lived in the most deprived areas in Scotland.
• The rate of stays for drug poisoning/overdose decreased to 21 stays per 100,000 population. This was the second consecutive decrease in overdose stay rates, and the lowest recorded rate since 2006/07.

Background

Hospital activity data are based on information routinely drawn from hospital administrative systems across NHSScotland. These statistics relate to all inpatient and day cases (excluding maternity, neonatal and geriatric long stay) discharged from general acute and psychiatric hospitals (including paediatric facilities).

Rates referred to in this publication are European Age-sex Standardised Rates (EASR) per 100,000 population.

For further background information and glossary of terms please refer to the full report.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be Winter 2024.