The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) notes statistics released from National Records of Scotland today, which show 1,172 people died due to drug misuse in Scotland in 2023, which is an increase of 121 deaths on figures from 2022.

Commenting on the newly released statistics, Laura Wilson, Director of RPS Scotland, said:

“Every death from drug misuse is a tragedy for the individual as well as family, friends, and their wider community.

The fact that the number of people dying from drug misuse in Scotland is increasing demonstrates that current policy is not as effective as we need it to be and emphasises the need for a holistic approach from Scottish Government.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published a policy statement with fourteen 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.

“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.”