Scotland's drug deaths rise to new record

More than 1,200 people in Scotland died of drug misuse last year, new figures show.

The much-delayed figures show a record number of deaths for the sixth year in a row and the highest total since records began in 1996.

The figure of 1,264 is a 6% increase on 2018 and more than double the number of deaths in 2014.

It is the worst rate recorded in Europe and more than three times the rate for England and Wales.

The National Records of Scotland statistics are six months late after a huge backlog in processing toxicology results and delays due to Covid-19.

They show that two-thirds of those who died were aged 35 to 54.

The report said the median average age of drug-related deaths had gone up from 28 to 42 over the past two decades.

However, there was also an increase in deaths among 15 to 24 year olds - from 64 in 2018 to 76 in 2019.

Three-quarters of the deaths occurred in five health board areas.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde had 404 deaths, Lanarkshire 163, Lothian 155, Tayside 118 and Ayrshire and Arran 108.

Scotland's "polydrug" habit - mixing dangerous street drugs with alcohol and prescription pills - caused many of the deaths.

The report said 94% of all drug-related deaths were of people who took more than one substance.

Heroin and morphine were implicated in more deaths than in any previous year - more than half of the total.

"Street" benzodiazepines (such as etizolam) were named in almost two-thirds of deaths, more than in any previous year.

In September, a report from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction said Scotland had the highest recorded drug death rate in Europe, far ahead of Sweden in second place.

It highlighted the problem of benzos, saying: "In Scotland, criminal groups are known to be involved in the large-scale illicit manufacture and distribution of fake benzodiazepine medicines."

The fake Valium - that sells for as little as 50p - is many times stronger than prescription drugs.

The new breed of benzodiazepines are often taken alongside other drugs such as heroin.