Suspected Drug Deaths In Scotland - January To March 2024 - Drug Deaths Rising Again

12th June 2024

There were 320 suspected drug deaths between January and March 2024. This was 8% (23) higher than the previous quarter and 7% (22) higher than during the same period of 2023. Following a downward trend from early 2021 to late 2022, the rolling 12-month total of suspected drug deaths has risen over the last year.

Between January and March 2024:

There were 320 suspected drug deaths, 7% (22) higher than during the same period of 2023.

Males accounted for 73% of suspected drug deaths. This compares with 67% between January and March 2023.

There were 86 suspected drug deaths of females, a decrease of 12% (12) compared to the same period in 2023.

A majority (61%) of suspected drug deaths were of people aged between 35 and 54. This is broadly in line with previous quarters.
There were 13 suspected drug deaths in the under 25 age group, 19% (3) fewer than between January and March 2023.

The Police Divisions with the greatest number of suspected drug deaths were: Greater Glasgow (71), Edinburgh City (32), North East (30) and Renfrewshire & Inverclyde (30).

Note that numbers of suspected drug deaths fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Care should be taken not to interpret movements between individual calendar quarters as indicative of any long term trend.

There were 1,219 suspected drug deaths over the 12 months to March 2024, 10% (114) more than the 12 months to March 2023.

Note
For more information go to -
https://www.gov.scot/publications/suspected-drug-deaths-scotland-january-march-2024/