From Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report October 2026, the above and: Of particular interest: 82% of cases were aged 35 years and over. The most common age categories were 45 to 54 years (32%), followed by 35 to 44 years (26%) and 55 to 64 years (20%). Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report-october-2026/harm-indicators/suspected-drug-deaths/ From the BMJ in 2026: Scotland saw a spike in deaths related to drug use last year—with a fifth of deaths linked to a group of highly potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes. Drug use deaths in Scotland rose by 11% (116 deaths) to 1133 in 2025, figures … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths plummet despite pressure of Nitazines thanks to treatment rates at 90% plus and Naloxone kit distribution

From Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ​report, published today, the above and: Between April and June 2026, there were 1,901 drug-related hospital admissions (weekly average 146). The total number of admissions during this time was: 5% lower* than the previous quarter (2,007; weekly average 154) 16% lower* than the same period in 2024 (2,272; weekly average 175) 17% lower* than the same period in 2025 (2,286; weekly average 176) https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report-october-2026/harm-indicators/drug-related-acute-hospital-admissions/ This weekly average of 146 compares with the August 2020 peak of 280: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report-january-2023/#section-5-3 Surely this trend is having an impact on pressure in Scottish hospitals. Is … Continue reading Drug-related hospital admissions fall by 50% from peak in August 2020

From Excel Tables: Housing for older people and people with disabilities Last updated 27 October 2026 In the 5 last years of the Labour Government at Holyrood (2002 to 2006) there were on average 256 houses for older people/very sheltered. In the last 5 years (2022 to 2026), under the SNP, the equivalent figure is 807, THREE times as many. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-housing-for-older-people-and-people-with-disabilities/ This housing receives significant Scottish Government support, especially capital funding for new specialist homes and direct adaptation grants to housing associations plus broader funding to councils. Direct funding last year for adaptions to existing housing was around £21 … Continue reading SNP Government builds THREE times as many houses for older people and people with disabilities as did last Labour Government in Scotland

From Housing statistics: Scottish Landlord Register data Published 27 October 2026 the above show a decline in the number of landlords but an increase in the number of properties available to rent. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-landlord-register-data/ How has this been reported in ‘out’ media? Funny that, owner associations claim they have fewer properties to let yet official figures say they have more. What could they and their media chums be up to? Continue reading Nearly 11 000 more properties to rent in private sector in last five years

In the latest series of BBC Scotland’s Highland Cops we hear of a murder in Inverness is murdered by a County Lines gangster from Liverpool who, with a local accomplice stamps to death an Inverness man who is a drug addict and has presumably crossed him in some way. in the broadcast, there are several references to ‘Liverpool’, to ‘County Lines’ and to people ‘coming up here’ to kill. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0033kcn/highland-cops-series-4-1-a-murder-and-a-manhunt-in-inverness In October 2025, Inverness man Craig Hayden and Leo Heady from Liverpool, plead guilty to murder and are sentenced to 17 years. On 27 November that same year BBC Scotland … Continue reading County Lines gangster from Liverpool stamps Inverness man to death but BBC Scotland redact that detail for the Union

Read evidence at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=pay+for From the Scottish Government today at 3.45pm, 90 mins ago, but no mention on BBC Scotland website. Increased drug deaths typically takes them 15 mins to get up: The Deputy First Minister also confirmed that the Scottish Government will ensure that households in Scotland benefit from the £100 payment for energy bills support. Jenny Gilruth said that while any measures to bring down the cost of energy bills are welcome, the steps confirmed by the Chancellor today fall far short of what is required and do not meet the promises on which the UK Government came … Continue reading Scots to pay for a steel works, a national care service, an illegal dumps clear-up, and homelessness reduction in England, all out of a reduced block grant

From BBC Scotland, today, the above and: The number of women who died last year in Scotland from alcohol-related illnesses was up by 3% on the year before, official figures show., external Overall, the total number of people who died from alcohol-related conditions fell slightly, to the lowest rate since the pandemic. There were 1,152 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Scotland, a decrease of 3% compared with 2024. The Scottish government said the drop amounted to progress and that it would invest £160m this year on alcohol and drugs programmes. But one mother from Aberdeen whose daughter died alone after decades … Continue reading Desperate stuff from BBC Scotland as alcohol deaths fall, among women too