Number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has increased by a quarter

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z9OYy1fhDdKckO4GqmDYOlGiPTrHQnxqsxEDdeVVdPoJDGtnmcRDzAndxiZCuxRPsei5YTgTPTnE8FKym3TlumDGPGCJUPJDNsZubfgfTMCypKkO2BO6eNzJB0wucEsLnu0StN0GNZU/s1600-h/_44421463_crack_ap203.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166597765472234658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z9OYy1fhDdKckO4GqmDYOlGiPTrHQnxqsxEDdeVVdPoJDGtnmcRDzAndxiZCuxRPsei5YTgTPTnE8FKym3TlumDGPGCJUPJDNsZubfgfTMCypKkO2BO6eNzJB0wucEsLnu0StN0GNZU/s200/_44421463_crack_ap203.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br />The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has increased by a quarter, according to new figures. The General Register Office for Scotland (Gros) said there were 421 drug-related deaths last year, 85 more than in 2005, representing a 25% rise. Heroin or morphine use was involved in 62% of the deaths, while methadone use accounted for 23% of the total. The statistics revealed that 83% of those who died were under the age of 45, with 16% under 25. Almost four-fifths - 79% - of the fatalities were men. Previously the highest ever number of drug deaths recorded in Scotland occurred in 2002 when 392 people died. According to Gros, 280 of the deaths were a direct result of drug abuse, 51 were caused by accidental poisoning and 40 by intentional self poisoning. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said a new strategy was needed to tackle the demand and supply of illicit drugs in Scotland. A 25% increase in fatalities in just one year is extremely concerning and presents a disturbing report card of Scotland's overall drugs problem <br />He said: "This tragic death toll highlights the true scale of the challenge we are facing - a 25% increase in fatalities in just one year is extremely concerning and presents a disturbing report card of Scotland's overall drugs problem. "Our new strategy must tackle demand as well as supply and we will place renewed focus on education, tough enforcement, and of course new emphasis on diversion and prevention by offering more young people opportunities in sports and the arts to build self-esteem." The Scottish Conservatives called the figures "deeply depressing and chilling". <br />'Zero-tolerance' Party leader, Annabel Goldie said: "We need a clearer strategy which rehabilitates those caught up in a life of drugs and helps them on the way to abstinence, whilst at the same time adopting a zero-tolerance attitude to drugs and especially towards drug dealers. <br />Labour's Hugh Henry also acknowledged that a radical rethink was required. He added: "If the issue is about more resources then Labour will back the executive if it wants to make more money available. "But I suspect this is about more than just money and what is really needed is a radical rethink by experts working in the field." The Liberal Democrats called the figures "very worrying indeed". "There also needs to be a renewed effort against drug dealers, large and small, to get them off our streets", said the party's health spokesman, Ross Finnie. 'Terrible menace' figures did show a reduction in the number of deaths associated with cocaine and diazepam use. In 2005, 44 people died after taking cocaine. That figure dropped to 33 last year. <br />Deaths from diazepam, which is associated with the abuse of other substances like heroin, peaked in 2002 but have since reduced. The drug claimed 78 lives last year. <br />The highest proportion of deaths occurred in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board area, with 162 people dying through drug misuse, up 51 on the previous year. <br />In Grampian, 47 people died last year, up 24 on 2005's figures, while in Lothian the figure for drug-related deaths was 46. <br />These larger totals, however, include cases of accidental poisoning, deliberate self-poisoning, and cases where the victim's intention was unknown. <br />Graeme Pearson, director general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpos) spokesman on drugs, said the organisation was continuously looking for opportunities to reduce drug deaths. <br />He added: "The Scottish Executive policy of health, education and law enforcement is the best way to try and tackle the terrible menace of drugs that blights Scotland."

Number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has increased by a quarter

The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has increased by a quarter, according to new figures. The General Register Office for Scotland...

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HEROIN use in rural parts of North Wales is on the increase and comparable to some of England’s larger cities.

A shocking report found Gwynedd and Anglesey had the highest rate of deaths per population in Wales last year, with eight out of 100,000 killed by drugs.It puts the region’s drug deaths on a par with Liverpool.Swansea had seven deaths per 100,000, and Ceredigion three. Powys had three in 2005 and one last year.The figures emerged in a report by the International Centre for Drug Policy at the University of London.North West Wales coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said: “What’s shocking is the number of drug deaths coming in. At one time they were few and far between.”Mr Pritchard Jones, a member of the North Wales Drug Forum, said: “There have been drug-related deaths in Llandudno and Menai Bridge for years but what’s happening now is that there are more in places such as Denbigh, Holyhead, Bangor, Penygroes and Pwllheli. It has now spread to rural areas.”Mr Pritchard Jones said steps had been taken to ensure addicts took prescribed methadone in view of chemists in pharmacies, but in rural areas this was difficult to control.He said: “We are running a campaign that users must consume it within the pharmacy. That’s running well in towns like Colwyn Bay, Bangor and Holyhead but not in the countryside because it isn’t easy for people to get to a pharmacy twice a day.”Maldwyn Roberts, North Wales co-ordinator for community safety and substance misuse, and chairman of the Drug Related Death Review Group, said: “Usually heroin on its own does not kill but heroin is connected with most deaths.“Used with other drugs or alcohol it leaves users having trouble breathing or vomiting or drowning on the contents of their stomach.”Mr Roberts said many of the drug deaths were users who had decided not to get help from agencies and had taken drugs while on their own.The Cais drugs advisory service chief, Aneurin Owen, said: “The need for effective treatment is paramount if we are to reduce drug related deaths. Treatment has to be comprehensive, including more in-patient de-tox and better follow-up links in the community.”Carol Moore, chief officer of North Wales Probation Service said:“We have six substance misuse action teams at local authority level bringing together the police, probation, health and organisations involved in front-line substance misuse.“In addition we have the drug intervention programme funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and which delivers a range of services to people who have committed offences connected with drug misuse and at-risk groups.“Within the Probation Service we are able to offer a drug rehabilitation requirement as part of a community sentence for anybody who is going through the courts where drugs or substance misuse is a problem linked to their offending.”Caernarfon Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams said: “It is a particular problem in rural areas because people are isolated.”Figures for North East Wales and central North Wales were not supplied.<br />A recent study carried out by a group of experts from North Wales and London concluded that “the prevalence of may be rising.”Out of a population of around 250,000, researchers found an approximate total of 820 heroin users aged between 15-44 living in North west Wales, almost 1.2% of the population.However they estimated that the total number of users in the area to be much higher at aroheroin use in North west Walesund 1,300.One expert said the heroin problem in rural North west Wales was the same as Brighton.The study said: “The prevalence of heroin use in North West Wales is comparable to that reported from urban areas of the UK.”The study pointed to “pockets of high social deprivation and an established heroin-using population.”The experts analysed police custody figures, opiate-related overdose figures and hospital admissions. They also took data from hepatitis C tests.Out of 322 observed heroin users 72% were male, and 60% aged under 30.

HEROIN use in rural parts of North Wales is on the increase and comparable to some of England’s larger cities.

A shocking report found Gwynedd and Anglesey had the highest rate of deaths per population in Wales last year, with eight out of 100,000 kil...

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Substance abuse amongst children and teenagers

A significant proportion of parents are currently unaware of the prevalence of substance abuse amongst children and teenagers. Based upon the statistics, prevention is clearly the key here, but often parents delay the discussion of drug abuse issues with their children, unfortunately assuming that they won’t be exposed to drugs until they are older. As the statistics below demonstrate, drug abuse can often occur very early on in today’s drug abuse and binge drinking culture. So please don’t make the common mistake of putting off your discussion about drug and alcohol awareness with your children. 9% of 13 year olds and over a quarter (27%) of 15 year olds reported that they had used an illicit drug at some point in their lives. 7% of 13 year olds and 23% of 15 year olds reported that they had used an illicit drug in the year prior to the survey.4% of 13 year olds and 14% of 15 year olds reported that they had abused an illegal drug in the month prior to the survey which is perhaps indicative of more frequent recreational drug use.<br /> There was only minor difference between boys and girls in the statistics of those who reported that they had used illegal drugs in the last month (13 year olds, boys 4%, girls 3%: 15 year olds, boys 14%, girls 12%). 4% of 15 year olds admitted abusing illegal drugs at least once per week (including those reporting use on most days). An additional 4% of 15 year olds reported that they often abused illegal drugs once or twice per month and 4% a few times a year.

Substance abuse amongst children and teenagers

A significant proportion of parents are currently unaware of the prevalence of substance abuse amongst children and teenagers. Based upon th...

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Third of deaths on UK roads

Just over a third of deaths on UK roads are now young people aged 25 or under, so this is without doubt a serious problem. This equates to the death or serious injury of a young motorist or passenger every hour on average across the United Kingdom.

Third of deaths on UK roads

Just over a third of deaths on UK roads are now young people aged 25 or under, so this is without doubt a serious problem. This equates to t...

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Detailed survey of over 8000 young motorists

A detailed survey of over 8000 young motorists (aged from 17 to 24) carried out by Auto Trader, which is a UK motoring magazine and website, showed a frightening trend towards driving under the influence of either drugs, drink or both.In today's drug abuse and binge drinking culture amongst young adults and teenagers it is unfortunately no surprise that the statistics are high. In fact, as many as 17% of the young motorists surveyed admitted regular use of Cannabis, more alarmingly 12% frequently use the dangerous and addictive class A drug Cocaine, and 10% revealed regular use of Ecstasy. However, the greater danger comes from upwards of 10% admitting that they regularly drove their cars whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.When questioned about driving under the influence of substances, over 40% felt fine to drive their vehicles after using illegal drugs and 31% found it acceptable to drive after consuming alcohol. A high proportion were unaware of the actual legal limits for alcohol consumption when driving and as a result 8% had already been involved in an accident while under the influence, with a further 11% admitting a near miss.

Detailed survey of over 8000 young motorists

A detailed survey of over 8000 young motorists (aged from 17 to 24) carried out by Auto Trader, which is a UK motoring magazine and website,...

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