Specialist drug treatment referrals

Between June and August 2023, the average weekly number of referrals to specialist drug treatment services was broadly stable. A total of 5,923 attendances were recorded in this period – 6% lower than in the same time period in 2021 (6,290) and 14% higher than in 2022 (5,183).

Background 

Specialist drug treatment referrals occur when a person comes into contact with services designed to support their recovery from problematic drug use.

Figures shown are for referrals relating to either drug use or co-dependency (people seeking help for both drug and alcohol use). Figures include new referrals for treatment and referrals between services.

The chart below shows the weekly number of referrals to specialist drug treatment services between 24 May 2021 and 20 August 2023.

An interactive version of this chart can be found in the RADAR dashboard (external website). The dashboard also allows users to download the data and filter by NHS Board.

This chart shows the number of referrals to drug treatment services in Scotland on the y axis and the date, between 24 May 2021 and 20 August 2023, on the x axis. In December and January each year, a seasonal reduction in referrals occurs. Referrals decreased throughout June and July 2021, and then remained broadly stable to January 2022 (between 400 and 480 referrals per week). Throughout 2022, there was a fluctuating, but gradual, decrease in the average weekly number of referrals. After the seasonal reduction in December 2022, referrals returned to a weekly average of approximately 450 per week in January 2023. A downward trend has been evident since then, with referrals ranging between 400 and 500 per week.

Close

Specialist drug treatment referrals

Summary

Historic trend

• Referrals decreased throughout June and July 2021 and then remained broadly stable to January 2022 (between 400 to 480 referrals per week, apart from the seasonal decreases in December and January).
• Throughout 2022, there was a fluctuating, but gradual, decrease in the average weekly number of referrals.
• Following the seasonal reduction in December 2022, the number of referrals returned to a weekly average of approximately 450 per week, apart from decreases in April and May 2023.

National update

For the most recent period (22 May to 20 August 2023):

• 5,923 specialist drug treatment referrals were recorded, at an average of 456 per week.
• This was 2% higher than the previous 13-week period (20 February to 21 May 2023) when 5,803 referrals were recorded, at an average of 446 per week.
• Referrals were 6% lower compared to the same time period in 2021 (6,290, weekly average 484) and 14% higher than in 2022 (5,183, weekly average 399).

Local update

For the most recent period (22 May to 20 August 2023), the number of weekly drug treatment referrals varied across mainland NHS Boards, compared to the previous period:

• Referrals increased in four areas: NHS Dumfries and Galloway (5%), NHS Ayrshire and Arran (7%), NHS Lanarkshire (12%) and NHS Forth Valley (50%).
• Referrals decreased in two areas: NHS Borders (27%) and NHS Grampian (28%).
• Referrals were broadly stable in the other mainland NHS Boards.

To analyse these data further, please visit the RADAR dashboard (external website).

Additional information

These data are taken from the Drug and Alcohol Information System (DAISy) (external website) and its predecessor, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times (DATWT) database (external website).

PHS publishes further information on waiting times for people accessing specialist drug and alcohol treatment services. The latest data can be viewed in our National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times report which also includes a new interactive drug and alcohol treatment waiting times dashboard (external website).

Additionally, for more information on initial assessments for specialist drug and alcohol treatment services in Scotland, visit our new report: Drug and Alcohol Information System (DAISy): Overview of initial assessments for specialist drug and alcohol treatment 2021/22 and 2022/23.

For details of drug treatment services in your area, visit the Scottish Drug Services Directory website.

The Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards (gov.scot) is an improvement programme to strengthen access, choice and support within the drug treatment system in Scotland.

Opioid substitution therapy

Opioid substitution therapy (OST) prescribing data for April to June 2023 has been delayed due to issues affecting PHS's Prescribing Information System.

We anticipate that updated OST prescribing data will be available for the next release of this report in January 2024.

OST prescribing data to March 2023 are available in the previous quarterly report and in the RADAR dashboard.

Our annual update on the Estimated numbers of people prescribed opioid substitution therapy in Scotland in 2022/23, can be viewed on our website.

Injecting equipment provision

The average weekly numbers of injecting equipment provision (IEP) transactions, and needles and syringes distributed, increased between April and June 2023. During this period, the total numbers of transactions, and needles and syringes distributed, were lower than in the same period in 2021 (12% and 7% respectively) and similar to 2022.

Background 

IEP is a form of harm reduction that helps to reduce the transmission of blood-borne viruses among people who inject drugs. These data relate to the number of needle and syringe transactions at IEP sites and the total number of needles and syringes distributed.

The chart below shows the weekly number of IEP transactions from 5 April 2021 to 2 July 2023.

An interactive version of this chart can be found in the RADAR dashboard (external website). The dashboard also allows users to download the data and filter by NHS Board.

The chart shows the number of transactions at injecting equipment provision sites in Scotland. The number of transactions is on the y axis and the date, between 5 April 2021 and 2 July 2023, is on the x axis. An overall decreasing trend was observed from April 2021 to the end of 2021. Between February 2022 and March 2023, the number of transactions was broadly stable. There was a decrease in the number of transactions in April 2023, followed by an increase from May to the end of June 2023. A seasonal dip in transactions in December and January was observed in each year.

Close

Injecting equipment provision: transactions

Further charts showing the weekly number of needles and syringes distributed, and the ratio of needles and syringes per transaction, are available on the RADAR dashboard (external website).

Summary

Historic trend

• There was an overall decrease in the average weekly number of IEP transactions from April 2021 to February 2022. Since February 2022, the average number of transactions has been broadly stable (approximately 3,000 per week).
• An overall decreasing trend in the average weekly number of needles and syringes distributed was observed from April 2021 to January 2022. Since January 2022, the average number of needles and syringes distributed has been broadly stable (approximately 37,000 per week).
• The ratio of needles and syringes distributed per transaction was stable from April 2021 to March 2023, at an average of 14 needles and syringes distributed per transaction.
• For each indicator, seasonal fluctuations were observed during December and January each year.

Update

For the most recent time period (3 April to 2 July 2023):

IEP transactions

• 37,959 transactions were recorded, at an average of 2,920 per week.
• This was 6% higher than the previous 13-week period (2 January to 2 April 2023) when a total of 35,667 transactions were recorded (weekly average 2,744).
• The number of transactions was 12% lower than the same time period in 2021 (43,046, weekly average 3,311) and similar to 2022 (38,102, weekly average 2,931).

Needles and syringes distributed

• 494,660 needles and syringes were distributed, at an average of 38,051 per week.
• This was similar to the previous time period when a total of 484,967 needles and syringes were distributed, at an average of 37,305 per week.
• The number of needles and syringes distributed was 7% lower compared to the same time period in 2021 (529,960, weekly average 40,766) and similar to 2022 (483,377, weekly average 37,183).

Ratio of needles and syringes distributed

• There was a weekly average of 14 needles and syringes distributed per transaction.
• This was similar to the previous time period (15) and equal to the same time periods in 2021 and 2022 (both 14).

For visualisations of all IEP indicators and breakdowns by NHS Board, please see the RADAR dashboard (external website).

Additional information 

These data are taken from the Needle Exchange Online 360 database (neo360).

The 11 mainland NHS Boards use neo360 routinely, but due to missing data for part of the time period presented, NHS Highland is excluded from the transaction data, and both NHS Fife and NHS Highland are excluded from the needle and syringe and ratio figures.

For details of injecting equipment providers in your area, visit the Scottish Needle Exchange Directory website.