By stewartb
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.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Poverty and lack of hope for a decent future are clearly major factors in addictions ( alcohol or others ) . Throw in the poor health stats for Scotland and you have a depressing picture of a country’s population who have been let down too often by successive Governments .
So , who is responsible for the endemic poverty that blights so many areas of the UK ?
This is NOT a new problem in Scotland which has suddenly appeared when an SNP administration was elected . Scotland was , sadly , a byword for poverty and poor health when the Labour and Conservatives were in full control of these issues .
However , the MSM would have you believe that this is a new phenomenon created by those nasty Nats ! Drug deaths , alcohol deaths , heart disease , cancer , ….never existed in the Utopia that was Scotland under the Tories /Labour . If you believe that then you are eligible for a First Class ticket on the next rocket ship leaving for Eden , piloted by Captain Jackie Baillie , with Anas Sarwar navigating !
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‘Let down by successive governments’. Ah yes indeed that would be when Scotoalnd was under full English control re their governnent and then when their branch office at Holyrood were at the helm for TEN years.
Scotland was 100% controlled by England for decades and more..since the English forced Scotland into submission in 1707 in fact. So yes the damage to Scotland and the people was massive, a huge terrible legacy of poverty, crime, drugs and alcohol addiction and far too many young people having to leave just to have a life somewhere they were able to do so. I know a retired teacher from the west coast who said his students just had no ambition to learn at all, because they knew there was nothing, ‘NO opportunities’ for them after school.
Tragic and very much an agenda, keep the people down and poor, control their land and country, take their £trillions worth of resources, as a freebie, win win for the English elite. SNP have performed miracles really in a few short years, and started to repair the ‘unionists’ damage, it will take a lot longer, if they aren’t ousted next year, by the English BritNat state.
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Scotland’s reporting of deaths are more comprehensive than in England.
In Scotland it is mandatory to report where substances are involved which then are designated into a UK/European wide categorisation depending on what is written on death certificate.
in England ( not sure about Wales) this crucial information is frequently left blank by coroners so cannot be placed in to categories. From last report this was 25 percent as I recall.
This anomaly is due to devolution making it a legal requirement in Scotland and in England they have carried on as before.
In relation to deaths as a direct result of substance misuse ths can also be nuanced. For example a person who recently died due to respiratory failure in early forties due to smoking will be designated in the drug death categorisations. they no longer used opiates and were stable on methadone.
These headline statistics are then used so unethically for political purposes.
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This is a well-researched and powerful piece that rightly challenges the selective outrage often seen in political discourse and media framing. The tragedy of drug deaths deserves honest, consistent attention across all parts of the UK not politically motivated narratives. In the same spirit of accuracy and data-driven understanding, tools like KWCalc Power System Solutions help professionals make informed decisions in technical fields, just as policymakers should in public health.
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You’re right to highlight how political spin and media bias can distort the reality of drug deaths across the UK, not just in Scotland. The data from England and Wales makes clear this is a nationwide crisis rooted in deep social issues. Just as tackling such problems needs honest guidance, students benefit from Your College Planning Companion to make informed choices about their future.
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You make a strong point, drug misuse is a UK-wide crisis that needs genuine solutions, not political blame. The data clearly reflect deeper social issues that demand coordinated action. For everyday wellbeing ideas, Well Housekeeping blog tips offer helpful advice on creating safer, healthier living spaces.
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