Drug deaths in Scotland rose in 2023

The data showed that people in the poorest areas of Scotland were more than 15 times more likely to die from drug misuse than those in the least poor areas. At the same time, the age at which people die from drug misuse has increased over the past two decades.

Those aged 35 to 54 were most likely to die from substance abuse in 2023, and men were twice as likely to die from substance abuse as women.

After adjusting for age, Glasgow and Dundee had the highest death rates from drug misuse, while East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire had the lowest.

During the period 2019-2023, Glasgow had the highest rate of deaths from drug abuse, at 44.6 deaths per 100,000 population.

In Glasgow, Dundee, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire, East Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire, death rates from drug misuse were above the Scottish average.

88% of the deaths were due to accidental poisoning and 7% were due to deliberate self-poisoning.