Drug-Related Deaths in Scotland in 1999

21 August 2000

In the first of a new series of Occasional Papers, the Registrar General for Scotland has today published summary information about drug-related deaths in Scotland in 1999.

The broad total of drug-related deaths rose by 23 per cent from 276 in 1998 to 340 in 1999.

Within this total the number of deaths of those known or suspected to be drug-dependent rose from 179 to 227. There was a smaller increase, from 97 to 113, in the number of deaths of persons not known or suspected to be drug dependent.

Of the 340 deaths, heroin/morphine was involved in 163 (48%), diazepam in 135 (40%), and methadone in 62 (18%); of the 276 deaths recorded in 1998, 114 involved heroin/morphine, 105 involved diazepam and 64 involved methadone

The highest number of deaths - 112 - was in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area, with 42 in Grampian and 38 in Lothian. In 1998, the numbers of drug-related deaths recorded in these areas were 94, 31 and 37 respectively.

Notes For News Editors

This is the first in a new series of Occasional Papers, launched today by the Registrar General for Scotland. The new series will provide more detailed information on demographic changes in Scotland and other aspects of the work of the Department. It is intended to publish about 6 issues a year, primarily through the GROS website though paper copies will also be made available .
Further copies of the paper may be obtained from Statistics Customer Services using our Contact Form or from the GROS website at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.