In News

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

The number of deaths caused by drug misuse in Scotland last year fell to its lowest figure since 2017, according to the latest official data which revealed opioids as the most common cause of fatalities.

The 1,017 deaths recorded in 2024 was a 13 per cent decrease, equating to 155 fewer deaths, compared with 2023, the National Records of Scotland revealed.

It said opioids were most commonly “implicated” in deaths last year, accounting for 80 per cent of fatalities, followed by benzodiazepines (56 per cent) and cocaine (47 per cent). However, the number of drug misuse deaths caused by opioids and benzodiazepines fell in 2024.

Most deaths – 91 per cent – were classified as accidental poisonings and six per cent as intentional self-poisonings. Males were more than twice as likely to suffer a drug misuse death as females last year, although both deaths in both groups decreased compared with 2023.

The average age of people dying has increased in the last 25 years, going from 32 in 2000 to 45 in 2024.

People living in the most deprived parts of Scotland were 12 times more likely to die from drug misuse than people in the least deprived areas last year.

Glasgow, Dundee and Inverclyde recorded the highest rates of drug misuse deaths between 2020 and 2024.