From reader velofello, responding to my flabbier critique of Glen Campbell lying about the Scottish Government:
So A&E England have a “cuts and bruises” only category of clinic, and these are included in the waiting time stats. for general A&E stats? Does help shield the reality.
Drugs-related deaths in Scotland include any deceased person who has been taking prescribed medicinal drugs, by their doctor? Pretty well most over 60’s take some form of medication I’d wager. Me too.
Business contract agreements: A fully defined scope and design? Negotiate a lump sum contract. In a hurry? Design not fully completed, but want to press on? Avoid a lump sum contract, the contractor, if astute, will take you to the cleaners for each change you forward to them. And yes, I’ve done it! So which contract form is it with the Ferguson yard?
Want informed information? Avoid BBC Scotland I’d advise. I’ve done it!
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Thanks for this clarification. I did not know that ‘drugs related’ was defined more widely that just those taking illegal drugs. If it includes any death related to drugs which a person has been taking, including these prescribed by their GP, then it is likely that, since many people over the age of 60 take some prescribed medicine for long periods, that some of these will have iatrogenic effects, including deaths.
Over the past five years, I have twice had adverse reactions to drugs which were prescribed to ameliorate effects related to a chronic condition. When you open a packet of medicine, there is an information sheet which includes information on possible side effects and the probability of them occurring. With the first tablet, it was clear, fairly early that I was experiencing one of the side effects and, after waiting a period to see if my body accommodated to it, my GP terminated its use and prescribed an alternative. This seemed to be effective and, for nearly four years, my condition was stable. However, in routine blood tests, a deficiency in a mineral began to show and I was also experiencing some symptoms which caused some discomfort. After a period without taking the drug, tests showed the mineral deficiency had ceased and the symptoms I had been experiencing ceased. So, the GP decided that I discontinue the drug and, since the condition has stabilised, I do not need to take any of that drug.
Clearly, I had been experiencing an iatrogenic effect – that is a malign side effect of a drug which deals with other symptoms. Although I have a long term condition, my health is other wise, very good and the principal drug has stabilised the condition for 20 years, so, I was able to withstand the iatrogenic effects. However, some of my contemporaries, have a range of conditions and are not as resilient in the face of an iatrogenic effect and, sadly, some will die. The proximate cause of death, is probably the drug which they have been prescribed, but really the cause of death is due to a range of factors. But this death will be recorded as ‘drugs related’.
This is the kind of useful information which helps us to have a constructive discourse about things. Misuse of banned substances is a serious matter and deserves attention, but, it will not get public attention if the media and opposition politicians are only interested in BLAMING.
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Alastair,
Drug related deaths in Scotland do not include anyone taking prescribed medicinal drugs. This is part of the definition which seems to be agreed for use in the UK not just Scotland
“”The ‘baseline’ definition for the UK Drugs Strategy covers the following cause of death
categories (the relevant codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases
and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision [ICD10], are given in brackets):
a) deaths where the underlying cause of death has been coded to the following sub-
categories of ‘mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use’:
(i) opioids (F11);
(ii) cannabinoids (F12);
(iii) sedatives or hypnotics (F13);
(iv) cocaine (F14);
(v) other stimulants, including caffeine (F15);
(vi) hallucinogens (F16); and
(vii)multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substances (F19).
b) deaths coded to the following categories and where a drug listed under the Misuse
of Drugs Act (1971) was known to be present in the body at the time of death (even
if the pathologist did not consider the drug to have had any direct contribution to the
death):
(i) accidental poisoning (X40 – X44);
(ii) intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances
(X60 – X64);
(iii) assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances (X85); and
(iv) event of undetermined intent, poisoning (Y10 – Y14).””
If you want the complete definition then it is usually contained in Annex A of the annual reports on drug related deaths in Scotland. You will find links to the reports here
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland
If prescribed medication results in side-effects, which may or may not be implicated in a death, then I believe there is a separate reporting mechanism for that.
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Alasdair, Alasdair, Alasdair. When will predictive text get it right.
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An “Alasdair” by any other name would smell as sweet.
We certainly hope so!
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Reblogged this on New Scotland and commented:
Want informed information? Avoid BBC Scotland. Avoid BBC
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