Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on specialist drug treatment referrals in Scotland.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Public Health Scotland – Drug and Alcohol Information System (DAISy)

Date that data are acquired

8 September 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

29 June 2020 to 3 July 2022, three months in arrears.

Continuity of data

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Number of specialist drug treatment referrals and moving averages.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on opioid substitution therapy ePrescribing in Scotland.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Public Health Scotland – Prescribing Information System (PIS)

Date that data are acquired

14 September 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

1 April 2022 and 30 June 2022.

Data are available for analysis approximately three months after the events described.

Continuity of data

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022..

Concepts and definitions

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

As this data accounts for a sizable minority of OST prescriptions, the patterns described are indicative and should not be assumed to apply to all NHS board areas or prescribers.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Total number of prescribed items and total quantities of methadone and buprenorphine prescribed recorded by eMessages.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on injecting equipment provision (IEP) in Scotland.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Public Health Scotland – Needle Exchange Online (neo360)

Date that data are acquired

22 September 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

29 June 2020 to 3 July 2022.

Data are available for analysis approximately three months after the events described.

Continuity of data

Caution is recommended when interpreting these statistics. Service provision in some areas has changed over time.

Some outlets will have closed, and others will have opened.

The methods used by areas to count or estimate some of the figures may also have changed.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

Details found in the PHS Injecting Equipment Provision in Scotland 2020/21 report.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

This indicator includes data on attendances and needle and syringe distribution by injecting equipment provision services in mainland Scotland NHS boards.

It does not include data for NHS Shetland, NHS Orkney and NHS Western Isles.

The 11 mainland NHS boards use neo360 routinely, but due to missing data for part of the time period presented, NHS Fife and NHS Highland are excluded from the transaction data.

NHS Highland is also excluded from the needle and syringe figures.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Total number of IEP transactions and numbers of needles and syringes distributed and moving averages.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on emergency naloxone administration in Scotland.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS)

Date that data are acquired

4 September 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

1 July 2020 to 21 August 2022, three months in arrears.

Continuity of data

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Number of SAS naloxone incidents and moving averages.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on drug-related acute hospital admissions in Scotland.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Public Health Scotland – general acute inpatient/day case records (SMR01) and mental health inpatient/day case records (SMR04)

Date that data are acquired

29 August 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

25 May 2020 and 26 June 2022.

Data are available for analysis approximately two months after the events described.

Continuity of data

Details found in the PHS drug-related hospital statistics report.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

Details found in the PHS drug-related hospital statistics report.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

Details found in the PHS drug-related hospital statistics report.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Number of admissions to all inpatient and day cases to general acute hospitals (excluding maternity, neonatal, geriatric long stay and admissions to psychiatric hospitals), presented by date of admission with moving averages.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on drug overdose or intoxication attendances at emergency departments in Scotland.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Public Health Scotland – Accident & Emergency Datamart

Date that data are acquired

29 August 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

6 July 2020 and 31 July 2022.

Data are available for analysis approximately two months after the events described.

Continuity of data

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

A drug–related emergency department (ED) attendance is an attendance for a drug intoxication or overdose, either alone, or combined with alcohol intoxication.

Details found in the substance use section of the COVID wider impacts dashboard.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

Details found in the data management – hospital activity webpage. Diagnosis/reason for attendance can be recorded in a variety of ways, including in free text fields and not all NHS boards submit this information. The numbers presented in this report therefore only give a high–level indication of attendances over time.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Number of drug overdose or intoxication attendances at emergency departments and moving averages.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on ASSIST: A Surveillance Study in Illicit Substance Toxicity, hospital toxicology pilot in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Date that data are acquired

26 September 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

19 August 2022 to 23 September 2022.

Continuity of data

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital provides Public Health Scotland with toxicology screening data on a monthly basis for the purposes of public health surveillance.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

Pilot assesses the feasibility of prospective surveillance of ED presentations due to acute illicit drug toxicity.

The use of the term 'illicit drug' encompasses any substance that is not prescribed to the individual and is a controlled drug as per the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

All data shared by QEUH has been included in this indicator.

Toxicology results are not yet available for analysis.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Number of patients, details of discharge, number of hours in ED, number of hospital hours.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on forensic toxicology testing for controlled substances in Scotland.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and University of Glasgow

Date that data are acquired

29 August 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

1 January 2020 and 30 June 2022, three months in arrears.

Continuity of data

Forensic Medicine and Science at the University of Glasgow provides Public Health Scotland with toxicology data for the purposes of dissemination to NHS board Drug-Related Death Data Coordinators and for public health surveillance.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

Forensic Medicine and Science undertakes toxicology testing on behalf of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for post-mortem cases where controlled drugs (as defined in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971) were found present.

Detailed interpretation of the levels of drugs found present, drug interactions, co–morbidities or other factors relating to death are outside the scope of this analysis.

This analysis does not imply that specific drugs were implicated in deaths nor that deaths were classified as 'drug–related' and does not include consideration of wider causes of death.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

The data above is for deaths occurring in the west, east and parts of the north of Scotland. Apart from a very small number of cases analysed at the University of Glasgow, post–mortem toxicology testing for deaths occurring in Aberdeen and the far north of Scotland is conducted by a similar service at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI). Results from the ARI are not included in this report.

Data presented may be subject to minor change, particularly for more recent time periods.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Forensic toxicology cases testing positive for controlled substances displayed as a percentage per drug type.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on Scottish Prison Service drug analysis project.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS), University of Dundee

Date that data are acquired

27 July 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Timeframe of data and timeliness

1 March 2020 and 31 March 2022, six months in arrears.

Continuity of data

LRCFS, University of Dundee provides Public Health Scotland with drug analysis data on a quarterly basis for the purposes of public health surveillance.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' was added to this publication on 9 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

1. Synthetic cannabinoids
   'Synthetic cannabinoids' is a term used to describe over 200 lab-made drugs that interact with the endocannabinoid system.
2. Multiple
   Samples classed as 'multiple' are seizures that contain more than one drug, such as a piece of paper with both a cannabinoid and benzodiazepine, or two different benzodiazepines.
3. Sedatives/hypnotics
   Sedatives are a category of drugs with depressant effects (reduce heart rate and breathing) that includes anti-psychotics (quetiapine and olanzapine) and benzodiazepines (most notably etizolam, but also flubromazepam, bromazolam, diazepam and flualprazolam).

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

Our analysis includes all data provided to PHS by LCRFS. LCRFS does not analysis all seizures from SPS and this data should be considered as a sizeable subset of all prison seizures.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Prison seizures testing positive for controlled substances displayed as a percentage per drug type and sample type.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

28 September 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides a drug trend bulletin from Police Scotland STOP Unit.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Police Scotland STOP unit

Date that data are acquired

21 September 2022

Release date

11 October 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Continuity of data

Police Scotland STOP Unit provides drug trend information on a quarterly basis for the purposes of public health surveillance.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

An additional indicator called ‘Police Scotland interim drug bulletin’ was added to this publication on 10 November 2022.

Concepts and definitions

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a stimulant drug that produces feelings of empathy and euphoria. It is commonly found in tablet or crystal forms.

Benzodiazepines are depressant drugs with sedative and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects. They are also known as tranquilisers.

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

All information provided to PHS by Police Scotland STOP Unit is shared.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Police seizures positive for controlled substances displayed as drug type.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

11 October 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

10 November 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides a special interim drug bulletin from Police Scotland STOP Unit.

Theme

Substance use surveillance

Topic

Drugs

Format

HTML

Data source(s)

Police Scotland STOP unit

Date that data are acquired

31 October 2022

Release date

10 November 2022

Frequency

Quarterly

Continuity of data

Police Scotland STOP Unit provides drug trend information on a quarterly basis for the purposes of public health surveillance.

Revisions statement

Data in the most recent quarterly updates supersedes data reported in previous reports.

Revisions relevant to this publication

This 'Police Scotland interim drug bulletin' indicator was added to this publication on 10 November 2022.

This new indicator provides information on nitazene-type drugs found in pills sold as oxycodone.

Concepts and definitions

Nitazene-type drugs (also known as 2-benzyl benzimidazoles) are synthetic opioids with depressant effects (reduce heart rate and breathing).

Relevance and key uses of the statistics

Data are collected as part of public health surveillance on substance use in Scotland.

The most up–to–date data available is published in this report to provide a timely indicator of drug trends as part of RADAR, Scotland’s Drugs Early Warning System.

Accuracy

The data are considered accurate.

Data are validated locally by data suppliers/partnerships/sources and checked by PHS.

Where relevant, data quality and completeness issues are described in the text associated with each indicator.

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality.

Completeness

All information provided to PHS by Police Scotland STOP Unit is shared.

Comparability

Data are not comparable outwith Scotland.

Accessibility

It is the policy of PHS to make its websites and products accessible according to our accessibility statement. Graphs and tables have been assessed against PHS accessibility standards.

Accessibility of the report and findings are of continuous consideration throughout the report development.

Coherence and clarity

The report is available as HTML web pages.

Wherever possible, plain English descriptions have been used within the narrative and any technical words or phrases explained.

Value type and unit of measurement

Police seizures positive for controlled substances displayed as drug type.

Disclosure

Our protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

Official Statistics designation

Management Information Report

UK Statistics Authority Assessment

Not applicable.

Last published

First publication in this series

Next published

24 January 2023

Date of first publication

10 November 2022

Help email

phs.drugsradar@phs.scot

Date form completed

10 November 2022

Publication title

Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report

Description

This indicator provides information on suspected drug–related deaths in Scotland.

Data source(s)

Scottish Government

Date that data are acquired

23 September 2022 – date of latest Scottish Government report

Frequency

Quarterly

The suspected drug death information in this report is published by the Scottish Government.

For more information on the methodology of these data please visit their latest report 'Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: April to June 2022'.