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| Drug-related deaths reach highest level on record | Drug-related deaths reach highest level on record |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has risen to its highest level since records began. | The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has risen to its highest level since records began. |
| The National Records of Scotland report revealed 613 people died as a result of drugs in 2014. | The National Records of Scotland report revealed 613 people died as a result of drugs in 2014. |
| The figure represents a 16% increase since 2013, and the first time in three years the number has gone up. | The figure represents a 16% increase since 2013, and the first time in three years the number has gone up. |
| The government said they showed drug deaths continued to particularly affect an "ageing" group of users with a history of drug use. | |
| The previous peak was in 2011, when there were 584 recorded deaths. Of those drug deaths in Scotland in 2014, 74% of the victims were men. | |
| Just under one third of those who died were from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, while 17% came from Lothian and 11% from Lanarkshire. | Just under one third of those who died were from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, while 17% came from Lothian and 11% from Lanarkshire. |
| More than half of the deaths were either blamed or partially blamed on heroin or morphine. Methadone, the prescribed heroin substitute, was involved in 214 cases. | More than half of the deaths were either blamed or partially blamed on heroin or morphine. Methadone, the prescribed heroin substitute, was involved in 214 cases. |
| Reflecting recent trends, older drug users were most likely to die, with the 35-44 age group recording 213 deaths - more than a third of the total. | Reflecting recent trends, older drug users were most likely to die, with the 35-44 age group recording 213 deaths - more than a third of the total. |
| Changes in drugs classification is cited by the report as one underlying reason for the increase. | Changes in drugs classification is cited by the report as one underlying reason for the increase. |
| In 2014, tramadol and zopiclone became controlled drugs. | In 2014, tramadol and zopiclone became controlled drugs. |
| The average age of people in Scotland dying of drug-related causes has further increased to 40 in 2014, up from 28 in 1996 when recording began. | |
| Paul Wheelhouse MSP, community safety and legal affairs minister, said the figures highlighted some progress in tackling problem drug use. | |
| But he added: "Scotland still faces a huge challenge in tackling the damaging effects of long-term drug use among an ageing cohort of individuals in Scotland. | |
| "This group of individuals often have long-term, chronic health problems as a result of sustained and, in many cases, increasingly chaotic drug-use issues. We are undertaking work to better understand the needs of particular sub-groups." | |
| Roy Robertson, chairman of the National Forum on Drug Related Deaths, said it had been asked to to co-ordinate a working group to advise on the problem. | |
| "Critical to reducing mortality rates in this cohort is person centred harm reduction and drug treatment services. For this to be successful, we need services that have the capacity, range of interventions and the skills to engage this population," he said. | |
| Dave Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum added: "Those who are dying are, in most cases, the most vulnerable of the people in Scotland with a drug problem. | |
| "As a result, we must work with services to see how we can engage better with this group - working more effectively and engaging in active outreach - as there is strong evidence that engagement with services is a protective factor in reducing overdose deaths." |