Suspected drug deaths increased by 8% in the latest three-month period, official data has shown.
The data, based on Police Scotland reports from officers attending scenes of deaths, estimated there were 320 suspected deaths in the first three months of the year – 23 more than in the October to December quarter.
It is also 7% – or 22 estimated deaths – more than during the same period of 2023.
A total of 1,219 deaths were believed to be drug-related by officers in the 12-month period to March 2024 – 10%, or 114 people, more than the previous year.
In the first quarter of 2024, males accounted for 73% of the suspected drug deaths, up from 67% from the same period last year.
However, there were 12% estimated deaths among women, with 86 down from 98 in 2023.
The data showed 61% of the suspected drug deaths were people between the ages of 35 and 54, while there were 13 estimated deaths in the under-25 group – 19% fewer than the same period of 2023.
Greater Glasgow was the police division with the greatest suspected drug deaths with 71, followed by 32 in Edinburgh City, 30 in the North East and Renfrewshire and Inverclyde divisions respectively.
Scottish Conservative MSP Sue Webber said: “On the SNP’s watch drug deaths have become Scotland’s national shame with successive nationalist first ministers failing to get a grip of this crisis.
“We already have the worst drug death rate in Europe and now the number of deaths appears to be rising again.
“Every single death represents a son or daughter lost tragically to the scourge of addiction and my heart goes out to their families.
“The SNP pinned all of their hopes on drug consumption rooms being a silver bullet to tackle this crisis, but those addicted to drugs need more support and they need it now.
“I would urge John Swinney to give his full support to the Right to Recovery Bill which is backed by frontline experts and would enshrine in law a right to treatment for all those who need it.”
Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, Dame Jackie Baillie, said: “Despite years of promises, the SNP has utterly failed to get to grips with this crisis – shockingly, the data shows that the number of people losing their lives to drugs is rising.
“Warm words and sympathy from this SNP Government will not cut it – they must act now.
“The SNP Government must stop the cuts to lifesaving drug and alcohol services, urgently address its complete failure to provide enough residential rehab beds, and deliver drug-checking facilities and the pilot, safer, drug consumption room in Glasgow without any further delay.”
Drugs and alcohol policy minister Christina McKelvie said: “My sincere and heartfelt condolences go to all those who have lost a loved one through addiction.
“This is a serious issue and the Scottish Government is taking a wide range of measures to tackle drugs-related deaths with our £250 million national mission on drugs – we’ve also backed more than 300 grassroots projects.
“We are continuing to expand residential rehabilitation capacity and are committed to delivering a £2.3 million a year, safer drug consumption facility pilot, which Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership is working at pace to establish.
“Licence applications for drug-checking facilities in Aberdeen and Dundee have been submitted to the Home Office, with a further application for a service in Glasgow expected to be submitted soon.
“The City of Edinburgh Council has also expressed a desire to introduce similar facilities and discussions are ongoing between Scottish Government and council officials.
“In 2023-24, we made a record £112 million available to local alcohol and drug partnerships and funding for drug policy has increased by 67% since 2014 to help us tackle this serious issue.
“We’re working hard to respond to the growing threat from super-strong synthetic opioids like nitazenes in an increasingly toxic and unpredictable drug supply.
“Such synthetics, which increase the risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death, are being found in a range of substances. Because of their strength I would urge people to carry extra life-saving naloxone kits.”