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Official figures show that drug-related deaths in Scotland fell in 2024 to the lowest level since 2017.
The data, published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) on 2 September 2025, revealed there were 1,017 drug misuse deaths registered in the country in 2024, a decrease of 13% (155 deaths) since 2023.
While NRS said this is the lowest number registered in any year since 2017, the number of age-adjusted deaths — 19.1 drug misuse deaths per 100,000 people — is still 3.6 times as high as when the series began in 2000, when there were 5.3 drug misuse deaths per 100,000 people.
The largest decrease in drug-related deaths between 2023 and 2024 was recorded in the Glasgow City area (-61 deaths), the City of Edinburgh (-19 deaths) and North Lanarkshire (-18 deaths).
“These areas also have the highest number of drug misuse deaths, as well as larger populations,” NRS said.
The data also show that people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland continue to be at the greatest risk — at 12 times as likely to have a drug misuse death compared to people in the least deprived areas.
Males are more than twice as likely to die from drug misuse than females, the data reveal, and there are more recorded deaths in people aged between 35 to 54 years compared with other age groups.
Opiates/opioids were implicated in 80% (810) of drug-related deaths recorded in 2024, and benzodiazepines in 56% (574).
Cocaine was implicated in 47% (479) of deaths and gabapentin and/or pregabalin in 37% (374).
Catriona Matheson, professor in substance use at the University of Stirling, and a former chair of the Scottish Drugs Death Taskforce for Scotland, said: “It’s very welcome that there’s been a reduction in drug-related deaths in 2024. This shows that some of the measures that were prompted by the Drug Death Taskforce are starting to have an impact.
“But there is a long way to go, because there are still far too many people dying from a preventable cause. We do know, unfortunately, that for 2025 there’s already been an influx of synthetic opioids and animal tranquilisers, which are affecting our drug supply chain and making it an even more hazardous environment.
“We really do need further action on making sure we have drug checking services, and safe supervised drug consummation sites across the country,” she added.
“I do want to give credit to all those who are working in frontline services delivering vital interventions and support to people — those who are in drug treatment, in harm reduction, in overdose response teams, police, ambulance teams. It’s the efforts that they have been putting in place that are starting to really have an impact.”
Laura Wilson, director for Scotland at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), commented: “Every death from drug misuse is a tragedy for the individual as well as family, friends, and their wider community.
“The fact that 1,017 people died from drug misuse in 2024 sadly demonstrates that Scotland has far more to do to ensure policies in this area, and their rollout, are effective.
“The RPS has published a policy statement with 14 recommendations to reduce harm from drugs and drug deaths.
“Whilst we welcome the initial steps Scottish government has taken, particularly to expand the availability of naloxone within community pharmacies for emergency use, we need to see action to progress some of our other recommendations; including providing access to patient records for pharmacists to enhance patient safety, managing patients’ transitions between care settings and the faster introduction of safer consumption facilities across Scotland.
“We continue to ask the Scottish government’s minister for drug and alcohol policy to meet with us to discuss these policies and how they might be implemented.”
Maree Todd, minister for drugs and alcohol for the Scottish government, commented: “My heartfelt condolences go to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through drugs.
“It is welcome that we have seen progress with the number of deaths at the lowest level since 2017, but I know there is still work to be done and we will continue to do everything we can to save and improve lives.”
