In 2023, Scotland reported 1,172 drug misuse deaths, marking a 12% increase from the previous year.

This figure represents the second-lowest annual total since 2017, with 2022 recording the lowest number.

Despite the recent increase, drug misuse deaths remain significantly higher than in 2000, with the age-adjusted rate in 2023 being 4.2 times greater than two decades ago.

The average age of individuals dying from drug misuse has risen from 32 in 2000 to 45 in 2023. Males accounted for a substantial portion of these deaths, with 805 cases, reflecting a 16% rise from 2022. Females represented 367 deaths, a 2% increase.

Opiates and opioids, including substances like heroin, morphine, and methadone, were implicated in 80% of all drug misuse deaths.

Geographically, Glasgow City and Dundee City reported the highest rates of drug misuse deaths, while East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire had the lowest.

Socioeconomic factors also played a significant role; individuals in the most deprived areas of Scotland were over 15 times more likely to die from drug misuse than those in the least deprived regions.

This disparity underscores the pronounced impact of deprivation on drug-related fatalities in the country.