25/08/2015

Highest Ever Number Of Drug-Related Deaths Recorded In Scotland

The highest ever number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has been recorded in 2014, according to a new report.

The National Records of Scotland report revealed 613 drug-related deaths were registered in in 2014, 86 (16%) more than in 2013.

Males accounted for 74% of the deaths in 2014.

The previous highest total was in 2011, when there were 584 recorded deaths.

The NHS Board area with the highest death rate was Greater Glasgow & Clyde, with the next being Ayrshire & Arran and Tayside.

The report found heroin and/or morphine as either the cause or partial cause of more than half of the deaths. Methadone was involved in 214 cases.

Cocaine, ecstasy-type drugs and amphetamines were implicated in, or potentially contributed to, 45, 14 and 22 deaths, while alcohol was involved in 106 fatalities.

(LM)

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