Drugs deaths rise to 1,172 remaining highest in Europe

Opiates and opioids - such as heroin and methadone - were involved in eight out of ten fatalities.

It has become an annual day of shame for Scotland. For another year Scotland has the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe following a rise on the previous year.

New figures showed drugs claimed the lives of more than a thousand people in 2023 – up 121.

The Scottish Government has described the increase as hugely concerning. However it believes the interventions it is taking are the right ones.

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