Scottish drug deaths drop for second year in row

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edgarshade

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BBC News

Aug 9 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14458440

The number of people dying from drug misuse in Scotland has fallen for the second year in a row. Figures from the Registrar General for Scotland show an 11% drop. There were 485 deaths in 2010, down from the previous year's figure of 545. But some critics have argued that the number could be even higher if all drug-related deaths were included. It is estimated the number of deaths from drug-acquired hepatitis C could reach 200, by 2015. However, these statistics will not be included in official drugs death figures. Although down, the figures for deaths from drug misuse are the third highest recorded. Three quarters of the 485 drug deaths were men and 33% were aged between 25 and 34.

Heroin and morphine were implicated in more than half the deaths. Methadone, the heroin substitute, was a contributor in 174 deaths. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam, were involved in 154 deaths and cocaine was linked to 33 deaths. Amphetamines were implicated in three of the deaths.
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In 2010 there were no deaths where ecstasy was involved. Alcohol was a contributor in 127 deaths.
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The Scottish government said the drop in deaths was evidence its drugs strategy was working and more lives were being saved.
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David Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said it was too early to say if the reduction in deaths was a long-term trend. He said: "The biggest issue is that Scotland's death toll from drug problems remains unacceptably high. If you look at the rate of drug-related deaths among the drug using population, Scotland has similar rates to our European neighbours. "But if you look at the rate of drug-related deaths compared to the overall population, Scottish people are seven times more likely to die from a drug-related death than their European counterparts. "Today's figures show encouraging progress on reducing the numbers of deaths. However, there is no room for complacency."
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No deaths with ecstasy, what a surprise. Why cant it just be legal then!
I wonder how many of those smack etc. deaths were due to accidental overdose, that could have been avoided with regulated amounts from legalisation.
 
Exactly.

The Scottish government said the drop in deaths was evidence its drugs strategy was working and more lives were being saved.
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Yay! Clap clap. :|
 
skillet said:
Exactly.
The Scottish government said the drop in deaths was evidence its drugs strategy was working and more lives were being saved.
Click to expand...

Yay! Clap clap. :|
Click to expand...

I think we are seeing a pattern of drug harm figures being massaged in an attempt to show that prohibition does, after all, work in the face of all the real evidence that it doesn't.
 
Wonder how much this has to do with the heroin drought the UK has been experiencing?
 
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