02 September 2025
Today (Tuesday, 2 September), the National Records of Scotland published its annual report on drug-related deaths. The report finds that:
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In 2024, there were 1,017 drug misuse deaths registered in Scotland, a decrease of 13% (155 deaths) compared with 2023.
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The latest figure is the lowest number registered in any year since 2017.
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In 2024, people in the most deprived areas of Scotland were 12 times as likely to have a drug misuse death compared to people in the least deprived areas.
Louise Stewart, Director for Scotland at WithYou, says:
“While today’s report shows our treatment and harm reduction approaches are beginning to make a difference, the loss of 1,017 lives in 2024 makes it clear that much more must be done.
“To truly halt Scotland’s drugs crisis in its tracks, we must urgently prioritise two key areas. First, ensuring people understand their human rights, so that they know what support is available to them and how to access it.
“Secondly, we must turn our focus to prevention. The Scottish Government needs to take ambitious and far-reaching action now to stop today’s children and young people from becoming tragic statistics in reports 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
“For me, that means taking a whole-population approach to tackling the deep-rooted health inequalities that drive harmful drug use. Only by improving the quality of life in our most deprived communities can we protect future generations and create lasting change.
“Today, my thoughts are with all those who have lost a loved one. And my advice for anyone who is worried about their drug use, or that of someone close to them, is quite simply to get in touch with WithYou.
“As well as our community-based services, we also offer a free, confidential Webchat. This can be a great first step in seeking support. Visit our website at wearewithyou.org.uk for expert advice.”
Safer inhalation kits
Scotland has seen a drastic increase in cocaine being implicated in drug-related deaths, from 6% in 2008, to 41% in 2023 and 47% in 2024. This will include people who inhale crack cocaine.
We want to help people move away from injecting towards inhalation, because inhaling is safer than injecting - but we need a harm reduction tool to support this.
The Misuse of Drugs Act prohibits the distribution of safer inhalation kits, which allow for the inhalation of crack cocaine via a single-use, sterile, heat-resistant glass pipe.
However, in England, WithYou services have been able to obtain a ‘letter of comfort’ from their local police commissioner in order to provide these harm reduction tools. The charity is currently providing them in five services.
In Scotland, a ‘letter of comfort’ has not yet been provided by the Lord Advocate.
Louise Stewart, Director for Scotland at WithYou, says:
“For nearly 40 years, we have been able to provide our clients with fresh needles - reducing the spread of infection, building trust and encouraging positive conversations on the road to recovery. Yet despite the lives this approach has saved, in Scotland we are still unable to offer safer inhalation kits - a comparable, evidence-based intervention.
“As cocaine use continues to rise, people who smoke crack cocaine are forced to use dangerous, improvised equipment. This not only causes serious and preventable injuries, it also represents a major missed opportunity to connect with a group who may not otherwise engage with support.
“This is deeply frustrating. I urge the Scottish Government to work with organisations like WithYou to make safer inhalation kits available in services without delay, and to ensure our harm reduction measures keep pace with rapidly changing drug trends.”
