Professor John Robertson OBA
From Estimated Prevalence of Opioid Dependence in Scotland 2014/15 to 2022/23, published today by Public Health Scotland, the above table shows opioid dependency among males falling from 10 700 to 5 900 and among females falling from 6 400 to only 3 000.
This is a most newsworthy and significant trend but you won’t see it in Scotland’s MSM because they don’t do good in case some of their viewers and readers think the SNP are responsible in the way they would be if the trend went the other way.
Among 50 to 64 year-olds opioid dependency has increased and among 35 to 49 year-olds it has fallen only slightly but among 15 to 34 years it has fallen dramatically to offer good news for Scotland drug deaths trend.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
It’s a Scotland Good story, not allowed on the british media.
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It could be deemed ‘unseemly’ to make btl comment on something as tragic as drug deaths. Of course the real topic – the real motivation – is political and mainstream media practices amongst those opposed to the Scottish Government. Fundamentally, this is not whataboutery but the means of calling out political hypocrisy and media bias!
Many parts of the UK are experiencing, to a worrying degree, the harms and worse of drug misuse. Trend data strongly suggest that present UK drugs policy and associated interventions are proving inadequate. At least in Scotland the mortality rate, whilst still far too high, recently has begun to level off if not reduce.
It is clear that there is a difference in the degree of political and press attention given to drug deaths in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK. Regarding the former, the branches of the two major political parties in the UK, Tory and Labour, each with lengthy periods in government in England and in Wales, peddle a simple message – it’s all down to ’SNPbad’. They and their media allies trust that the electorate in Scotland will remain ignorant of their own track record in government in addressing this matter that has complex societal roots.
The following strongly suggests that neither the Tories or Labour have demonstrated in government an ability to halt and reverse the rising trend in drugs including alcohol misuse.
Public Health Wales (March 12, 2025): ‘Record high alcohol related deaths in Wales highlight urgent public health concerns’.
‘Alcohol-specific deaths – those from conditions wholly caused by alcohol – increased to a new record high with 562 fatalities recorded in Wales in 2023, marking a 15.6 per cent increase from the previous year (486) and a significant rise from 10 years before (351 in 2014). Of the alcohol-specific deaths in 2023, nearly two thirds (64.8 per cent) involved males.’ (my emphasis)
‘Furthermore, there were 683 alcohol-related deaths in Wales in 2023, which represents a 10.5 per cent from the previous year (618) and a substantial rise from a decade before (462).’
‘Deprivation plays a significant role with individuals from the most deprived areas in Wales 2.8 times more likely to be admitted for alcohol-specific conditions than those from the least deprived areas.’
Those familiar with the rhetoric of the British Labour Party in Scotland and the media coverage it receives, may well be ‘shocked’ to learn that Wales has any ‘deprivation’ at all given how long there has been a Labour government in Cardiff!
Public Health Wales (March 5, 2025): ‘Survey reveals decline in physical and mental health in Wales’.
‘While over half of people in Wales have made looking after their health a high priority, many are experiencing a decline in their physical and mental well-being, according to the latest Time to Talk Public Health survey from Public Health Wales.’
‘The survey also found that 53 per cent of people say their physical health has worsened in the last three years, while 36 per cent reported a decline in their mental health. Many people find it difficult to focus on their health and wellbeing, with 28 percent reporting that their current physical activity levels are having a negative impact on their health.’
Public Health Wales (April 11, 2024): ‘Latest data on substance misuse in Wales published’
‘There were a total of 869 school exclusions as a result of alcohol or drugs amongst school aged children in 2022-23. That’s an increase of 119 per cent from 2020-21 and up 16.5 per cent from 2018-19. This is the highest number of exclusions since 2011-12. These figures are highlighted in the Data Mining Wales report – an annual statistical report summarising substance misuse data for Wales.’
Public Health Wales (July 11, 2024): ‘Opioids, the leading factor in drug-related deaths in Wales’.
‘Latest figures from Public Health Wales show that opioids contributed to more deaths in Wales in 2022-23, than any other substance. There were 125 opioid deaths, 64 involving heroin or morphine and the remaining 61 deaths involved at least one other opioid such as methadone, codeine or tramadol.’
‘Since 2003, Wales has maintained a higher rate of drug misuse deaths than England, with the exception of three years (2004, 2014 and 2020). In Wales in 2022 there were 71 drug deaths per million population. Rates in England in 2022 were 53 per million population. Rates of drug misuse deaths have increased in both countries over the past two decades.
‘Drug misuse deaths were over 5 times higher amongst those living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas compared with the 20 per cent least deprived areas in Wales.’
From the latest statistical report on drug deaths from the ONS – https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/2023registrations
‘There were 5,448 deaths related to drug poisoning registered in England and Wales in 2023; this is the highest number since records began in 1993 and 11.0% higher than in 2022 (4,907 registered deaths).’
‘In 2023, the highest rate of drug-poisoning deaths was observed in the North East (174.3 deaths per million; 441 registered deaths), which is three times higher than the lowest rate in London (58.1 deaths per million; 500 deaths). The North East has had the highest rate of drug-poisoning deaths for the past 11 years.
‘In Wales, the rate of drug-poisoning deaths rose to 129.2 deaths per million from 109.6 deaths per million in 2022.’
On deaths due to drug misuse, ‘the age-standardised mortality rates for deaths related to drug misuse in 2012 for England and Wales was 29 per million people. In 2023 it had risen to 61.8 per million.‘
To repeat, this is not intended as ‘whataboutery’, especially given the tragic nature of the topic. I’m fully willing to acknowledge that the Scottish Government could/should have done more, sooner to tackle drugs misuse. However, it is a reality check: the evidence from England and Wales adds to the legitimacy of calling out political hypocrisy and media bias, especially when it’s associated with important social issues and in the run up to a major democratic event in Scotland.
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The Scottish Gov funding proper total abstinence rehab facilities £250Million over five years. MUP keeping alcohol deaths down.
Cocaine and ketamine is now prevalent. Cut deaths but toxic over time. Albanian gangs are producing toxic cannabis. More is grown in the UK then imported.
There is more help available. Young people are going for help or more aware. Choosing a healthier lifestyle. NA and AA. People get well.
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