Although decreases were observed in the number of drug-related hospital admissions and suspected deaths, overall drug-related harms in Scotland remain high.

Drug harms

• Scottish Ambulance Service naloxone incidents between April and June 2022 (1,022) were 17% higher than in the previous quarter but were lower than expected compared to the same quarter in 2021 and 2020. 
• The number of drug-related hospital admissions between April and June 2022 (2,066) were considerably lower than the same quarter in 2021 (3,394).
• The most common drug category recorded in general acute hospital admissions between April and June 2022 was opioids (approximately 46% of all admissions). However, the number of opioid-related admissions has been decreasing since May 2021.
• Promoting naloxone distribution and increasing awareness of the signs of an overdose remain important life-saving interventions.

Drug treatment

• The number of specialist drug treatment referrals between April and June 2022 (4,900) were similar to the previous quarter but 20% lower than expected compared to the same quarter in 2021.
• The number of injecting equipment provision (IEP) transactions and the number of needles and syringes distributed from IEP outlets between April and June 2022 (38,102 and 483,377 respectively), were both similar to the previous quarter, but lower than the same quarter in 2021 and 2020.

Drug trends

• Much of the health harm associated with drug use in Scotland occurs as a result of two or more drugs (polydrug use). The majority of emergency department presentations in the ASSIST hospital toxicology pilot were associated with polydrug use and most post-mortem toxicology tests identified multiple substances.
• Opioids and benzodiazepines are the two most commonly reported drug types implicated in harms, but patterns of harm and use varies by age group and geographical area.
• New drugs are constantly appearing on the market. Five new drugs were detected for the first time in Scottish prisons in 2022. Changes in the types of substances available emphasises the importance of drug checking, forensic post-mortem toxicology and hospital toxicology testing.