Self-described as:
The Glasgow Guardian is the multi-award-winning independent newspaper of Glasgow University, and one of the oldest student publications to exist. We publish print editions monthly, and we’ve broken stories that have caught the attention of national press, politicians, and activists, and are made up of a thriving base of talented writers, editors and reporters.
the above story merely repeats the line of the media operating in Scotland: https://glasgowguardian.co.uk/2026/10/17/scotland-remains-drug-death-capital-of-europe/
I’d have hoped for better.
Here’s what they’ve missed and it’s of special interest to their young (captive) audience:
Age-specific mortality rates of drug use deaths by broad age group, registered in 2000 to 2025: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-2025/
There were 21.4 drug use deaths per 100,000 people in 2025, after adjusting for age. However, when you have a think about the rate in each of the 5 age groups, you should be able to see signs of a tipping point coming when overal drug deaths plummet.
This drama all started more than 40 years ago, in the years after Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979 and her government began a massive and sudden restructuring of the UK economy, shutting down heavy industry and cutting the size of the welfare state in a matter of a few years, throwing millions out of work and reducing the effectiveness of public services for those same millions. In Scotland, poor decisions by Labour made things worse. For details of that, see: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/09/23/how-scottish-labours-betrayal-of-glasgow-in-the-1980s-created-a-place-of-excess-child-death-that-even-20-years-of-scottish-government-success-in-reducing-child-poverty-cannot-remove/
So, the 55 and over group, teenagers and young adults in those days, deprived of hopes and meaning took to drugs 30 to 40 years ago. Many died from overdoses but many others have lived on with damaged bodies and shortened life expectancies. You can see in the line on the graph that they’re dying faster but that cannot last for long. In a few years the line will tip and they’ll all be gone, seemingly improving Scotland’s drug death figures and reputation of Scotland.
The under-25s and the 25 to 34s will not replace them with consistently low and plummeting rates of death evident in the graph.
The middle group, the 35 to 54s will be a presence for some time to come but they too show a steadily diminishing trend.
In England, currently, perhaps, 9.1 deaths per 100 000*, 16.76 in the North East, 14 in Wales, the trend is very different:
Here’s a prediction. Death rates in England and Wales, though apparently much lower are steadily growing and will surpass the steadily falling Scottish figures in ten years or less.
*We don’t really know what the death rate in England is. Different counting, see:
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The legacy from Westminster and Thatcher. Unemployment was 15%. Inflation 15%. Interest rates 17%. Millions unemployed. Took all the Oil & Gas revenues and left Scotland in poverty. Took the equivalent of £Billions. Spent it in London S/E. Canary Wharf. ‘Loads of money’ bankers who fund the Tory Party. The only place unemployment was under 10% was London S/E. The Troubles in NI. Unemployment was 20%. It cost a fortune. £Billions.
The drug figures are collected differently in other countries. In Scotland as a total. (Higher?) In England three different categories. Drug misuse, death by heroin and accidental drug deaths.
In Scotland all drug deaths are people prescribed methadone, then take other substances. The Scottish Gov has funded proper, total abstinence rehab facilities. £250million over five years.
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The anti-Scottish media are addicted to ”Scotland – Drug Death capital….” and need to seek help .
However , like any addict, they will need to hit bottom before they realise their problem .
Some would say that they hit bottom a long time ago !
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