Earlier this week, it emerged that drug deaths in Scotland have fallen to their lowest levels in eight years.
Deaths from drug misuse in 2024 dropped by 13% – or 155 deaths – to 1017, according to the National Records of Scotland (NRS). However, Scotland’s drugs deaths rate remains the worst in Europe.
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Responding to the figures, minister Maree Todd expressed her “deep condolences” to the family and friends of the 1017 people who died, adding that they are “simply not statistics”.
Todd, who took on the brief in June, told MSPs: “Let me be clear that these figures are still far too high.
“Every drug death is a confined tragedy. Every drug death is one too many, and every drug death is preventable.”
Todd added that drug deaths are more prevalent in deprived areas, and that the Scottish Government is determined to tackle poverty in Scotland.
“These figures remind us of the critical importance of tackling the root causes of poverty and inequality, and delivering this Government’s mission of eradicating child poverty,” she said.
“We must also continue to address the unique challenges faced by women during these drugs.
“With that in mind, I am pleased to announce that we are directing some of the additional funding in the drugs and alcohol budget.”
Aberlour Children’s Charity will receive £1.1m for its perinatal support and recovery services, and the Corra Foundation in Glasgow will receive £750,000 to make it easier for women impacted by substance use to access services.
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And, a further £750k has been allocated to Winning Scotland’s Planet Youth, which supports young people to make healthy choices.
NRS figures showed that there was a drop in the number of young people who had died from drugs in 2024, a total of 34 under-25s compared to 58 in 2023.
“While there is nothing we can do to bring back those whose lives have been so tragically cut short, or to ease the unimaginable grief their loved ones must feel, we will continue to do all we can to end the devastating impacts of drugs in Scotland,” Todd said.
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s health spokesperson, said action by the Government to decrease drug deaths has been “far too slow”.
She said funding for alcohol and drugs partnerships has been cut in real-terms as she warned about the rise of synthetic drugs.
“There a new danger happening right now,” she told MSPs. “The rise of synthetic opioids in our communities.
“They do not respond to typical doses of naloxone and the number of deaths is increasing.
“You only need to look at the scale of the problem in America to see what is coming here.”
Baillie criticised SNP calls for drugs to be decriminalised, and added: “Time would be better spent on providing routes out of addiction and improved access to rehabilitation services.”
