Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report
January 2023

A Management Information Statistics publication for Scotland

Published: 24 January 2023
Type: Statistical report
Author: Public Health Scotland

Drugs

About this release

Our quarterly report

The Drugs Team at Public Health Scotland (PHS) has compiled this report of drug-related indicators in order to inform action to prevent drug harms and deaths.

The objectives of this report are to:

monitor changes in drug trends, harms and use of services to inform immediate and short-term actions that reduce drug harms
detect potential clusters of harms and recommend appropriate responses

Update

This publication was updated on 26 January 2023, with a slight amendment to provide the total figures for October 2022 in the suspected drug deaths indicator.

There was a minor update to this publication on 27 July 2023, in the opioid substitution therapy indicator. The glossary was updated to state that injectable buprenorphine is administered as a subcutaneous injection (previously listed as an intramuscular injection).

Data and reporting period

Observed changes in indicators may reflect genuine trends in behaviours but may also be influenced by factors such as the configuration of services, or data quality and completeness issues.
This release reports on Scotland-level data. Analysis for some indicators is available by NHS Board in the substance use section of the COVID-19 wider impacts dashboard.
These data may be subject to change. Further analysis of these data will be made available in our Official and National Statistics publications on substance use.
Different time periods may be reported across the different indicators. In all cases, the most recently available data are used. Most charts are based upon a 2-year time series.
Key time periods, during which notable pandemic restrictions were in place, are indicated by reference lines and shaded areas on the charts. For more information on COVID-19 restrictions, view this timeline from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Date of next report

The next release of this publication will be 25 April 2023.

Acknowledgements

This report reflects the collective efforts of different organisations and hundreds of people in frontline and supporting roles who record, organise, analyse and interpret information from a range of sources and services.

We gratefully acknowledge the continued commitment and effort of all those involved.

Summary of indicators

Police Scotland drug trends bulletin: This update provides information on street benzos (benzodiazepines) and nitazenes mis-sold as oxycodone.
Reports of drug harms to RADAR: 18 reports were validated by RADAR between 24 September 2022 and 11 January 2023.
Naloxone administration by Scottish Ambulance Service: The number of incidents between September and November 2022 (832) were lower compared to the same time period in 2020 (1,032) and 2021 (1,176).
Drug-related attendances at emergency departments: The number of attendances between September to November 2022 (1,022) were slightly lower than expected for this time period comparing to similar time periods in the previous two years (1,068 attendances in 2021 and 1,114 in 2020).
Drug-related acute hospital admissions: The number of admissions between July and September 2022 (2,024) were considerably lower compared to the same time period in 2020 (3,643) and 2021 (3,033).
Suspected drug deaths: The average weekly number of suspected drug deaths increased in October and November 2022, following a decreasing trend in recent months. There were 76 suspected drug deaths in October 2022 and 109 suspected drug deaths in November 2022. The number of suspected drug deaths in November 2022 (109) was 17% higher than in November 2020 (93) and 22% higher than in November 2021 (89).
Emergency department toxicology: ASSIST: Between August and November 2022, 169 detections of 30 different illicit drugs were identified by the ASSIST pilot. More than one substance was detected in 82% of attendances.
Forensic toxicology testing for controlled substances: During July to September 2022, the most commonly found drugs or drug types in post-mortem testing were opioids (74%) and benzodiazepines (50%). Heroin/morphine was detected in 35% of deaths and there was a continued reduction in detections for etizolam (17%) and methadone (25%).
Drug seizures in Scottish prisons: Synthetic cannabinoids were the most prevalent drug type detected in drug seizures in Scottish prisons during April, detected in 50% of samples. In contrast, benzodiazepines were the most prevalent in May, detected in 27% of samples.
Specialist drug treatment referrals: The number of specialist drug treatment referrals between August to November 2022 (4,620) were lower compared to the same time periods in 2020 (5,092) and 2021 (5,511).
Opioid substitution therapy: The average number of opioid substitution therapy (OST) doses supplied per month decreased slightly in the period from July to September 2022. The number of OST doses supplied during this period was higher than in the same time period in 2018 and 2019, and lower than in the same time period in 2020 and 2021.
Injecting equipment provision: The average weekly numbers of Injecting Equipment Provision (IEP) transactions, and needles and syringes distributed were broadly stable between July and September 2022. The total numbers of IEP transactions, and needles and syringes distributed during this time period were lower compared to the same time periods in 2020 and 2021.