6. Number of deaths attributable to drug misuse

Annual statistics on drug related deaths are compiled by the General Register Office for Scotland (GRO).

Indicator

There were 276 drug related deaths in Scotland in 1998, compared with 263 in 1997 and 267 in 1996, Figure 3.5. The majority of these (64.9%) were known or suspected to be drug dependent.

Figure 3.5 : Number of drug related deaths in Scotland

Background

In 1998, as in previous years, the majority of drug related deaths were of persons under 45, with over half (54.3%) aged between 25 and 44 and over one third (34.1%) aged under 25.

For 253 of the 276 drug related deaths in 1998, the GRO was able to provide information on the drug (or, more usually, drugs) involved. Heroin/morphine ¹ was listed on 114 occasions, diazepam 105 and methadone 64.