Drug deaths fall but remain over 1,000

The number of drug deaths in 2024 fell by 13 per cent compared to the year before, fresh statistics show.

There were 1,017 drug-related deaths last year, 155 fewer than in 2023 and the lowest number since 2017.

Drugs minister Maree Todd welcomed the drop but said there was “still work to be done” to further reduce the number of victims.

Deaths involving drug misuse had been increasing over the last two decades, reaching a peak in 2020 when 1,339 were recorded.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon accepted then that her government had taken “our eye off the ball” and pledged to do more to bring the number down.

Deaths fell in 2021 and 2022, before spiking again in 2023 to 1,172.

The government has been under significant pressure to respond to the problem, as Scotland has the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe.

England and Wales have also seen an increase in drug deaths but they remain proportionally lower than north of the border. In 2023, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 3,618 deaths identified to be a result of drug misuse.

Todd, who visited The Scheme Livi recovery project yesterday, said: “My heartfelt condolences go to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through drugs.

“It is welcome that we have seen progress with the number of deaths at the lowest level since 2017, but I know there is still work to be done and we will continue to do everything we can to save and improve lives.”

She pointed to extra funding going towards rehabilitation and treatment programmes, improving access to overdose prevention drug naloxone, and the opening of the safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow.

The figures published by the National Records of Scotland on Tuesday found people from deprived areas are 12 times more likely to die from drug misuse than those from wealthier communities.

Glasgow, Dundee and Inverclyde continue to have the highest rates of drug deaths, while East Renfrewshire and Aberdeenshire have the lowest.

More men (699) died from drug misuse than women (318), while the average age of a person at the time of death was 45 years old.

Scottish Conservative drugs spokesperson Annie Wells accused the government of having "no coherent and credible strategy for tackling this national crisis".

She added: "Despite pinning all their hopes on drugs consumption rooms being the solution, the fatality rate so far in 2025 – since The Thistle opened – is up once again.

“Instead of state-sponsored drug-taking, the focus should be on treatment and rehab. John Swinney must stop the dithering and finally back the Scottish Conservatives’ Right to Recovery Bill, which will guarantee every Scot the right to receive potentially life-saving treatment."

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "Scotland’s drug emergency is claiming far too many lives and more must be done to not only save lives but ensure that people can get the recovery support that they need.

“The SNP government must also work with Police Scotland, local authorities and health boards to ensure that those making money out of this misery are held to account, while their victims have the best possible chance of recovery."