Suspected (left) and official drug deaths (right) in Scotland
From Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: October to December 2025, published today, the above, and:
There were 248 suspected drug deaths recorded during the period October to December 2025. This was 15% (43) fewer than the previous quarter (July to September 2025, 291 deaths), and 7% (16) more than the same calendar quarter in the previous year (October to December 2024, 232 deaths). This is the lowest quarterly total of suspected drug deaths recorded in 2025. https://www.gov.scot/publications/suspected-drug-deaths-scotland-october-december-2025/pages/3/
The data in this report is operational information from Police Scotland who compile figures on the basis of reports from police officers attending scenes of death. This is management information and not subject to the same level of validation and quality assurance as official statistics. Accredited official statistics on drug deaths in Scotland are published annually by National Records of Scotland.
What do the most recent official NRS figures reveal? This:
How does BBC Scotland typically report figures such as the above?
In September 2025, James Cook wrote of the above: Scotland remains the drugs death capital of Europe for the seventh year in a row despite a 13% fall in fatalities, official figures suggest.
Talking-up Scotland 
Drug deaths in Scotland reported as a total. Makes Scotland deaths appear higher.
In England reported in three different categories. Accidental death, death by heroin, death by overdose. Separate categories. Lower statistic numbers.
Scottish Gov funding proper total abstinence rehab. £250Million. Over five years. Getting people well. Prison £40,000 a year. Most crime is committed under the influence of alcohol/drugs. Crime is a gender issue. Males commit most (violent) crime.
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