Annual publication of drug-related death statistics 2024
Annual figures published by National Records of Scotland show 21 people died in Falkirk due to drug misuse in 2024.
Phillip Heaton, Lead Officer, Falkirk Alcohol and Drug Partnership said: “Every drug-related death is a preventable tragedy. We are working every day to ensure early intervention support is available across Falkirk to reduce drug-related harm.
“These latest statistics should be a reminder of the real impact that substance misuse is having within our local communities, and an opportunity for everyone to consider the role they can play in supporting people in their local area.
“Unfortunately, harmful stigma remains a huge barrier to providing support to the people who need it. Over the last year, we have developed a new anti-stigma training package to support all colleagues throughout the system who may come into contact with people affected by substance use. This stigma flows into public understanding of services, individual’s hesitancy to seek support, and the availability of services within the local community.
“This has also informed the development of our new strategic needs assessment, which has been produced with people who have lived experience and will outline our local priorities for the next few years.
“Alongside the successful naloxone programme and the development of new pre- and post rehabilitation support options, these are a few ways we are contributing to Scotland’s national mission to reduce drug deaths and harms.”
Phillipa Haxton, Head of Vital Events Statistics, National Records of Scotland said: “These statistics show a decrease in drug misuse deaths over the last year and represent the lowest number of deaths in the last seven years.
“The longer term trend shows that drug misuse deaths are still much more common than they were two decades ago.
“The statistics also provide information about the people who died of a drug misuse death. The figures show us that males continue to be more than twice as likely to have a drug misuse death as females.”
Background
The statistics show 1,017 people died in Scotland due to drug misuse in 2024. This is a decrease of 13% (155 deaths) compared with 2023 and the lowest number registered since 2017.
In Falkirk, 21 people died to drug misuse in 2024, a decrease of 15 deaths with 2023 and the lowest number registered in the local area since 2017.
- About Falkirk Alcohol and Drug Partnership
- Data: Decrease in drug misuse deaths [National Records of Scotland]
- Decrease in drug misuse deaths [gov.scot]