Drug specific
A tiny percentage of Scotland’s population has drug dependency issues. However, the impact this has on family, friends, our health service, the law, our economy and society is disproportionate.
Statistics show that an average of 1.84% of the population is dependent upon drugs.
Drug misuse can lead to drug deaths and complications such as Hepatitis C.
Rehabilitation and treatment can be costly, time consuming and is often controversial.
New trends are emerging in how and what type of drugs are used. There is a steady growth in the use of psycho-stimulants. Cocaine, not heroin, may become the major problem drug within five years. Polydrug use, where a number of substances are taken over a short time often involving alcohol, is growing in popularity.
SAADAT wishes to see a variety of treatment options on offer which we know work, and which allow a person to move on in their life.
We sit on the following groups: National groups on Integrated Care, Methadone and Psycho stimulants, the Scottish Executive’s Substance Misuse and Mental Health Working Group, Scottish Executive Homelessness and Substance Misuse Advisory Group.
• More details on Scotland’s drug misuse
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Drug Use Profile
In 2005/06 there were 13,791 people admitted as new clients to drug treatment services .
Those aged 16-24 are the most likely to have taken drugs in the last year. The majority of people are teenagers when they first start using illicit drugs. The most common age to have first tried drugs is 16. Drug taking is more common among men than women. Nearly one in five (17%) of those with a drug problem live with dependent children. Patterns of drug use are also associated with economic factors such as annual household income and working status. The less money coming in, the more likelihood there is for drugs to be taken.
• More details on Scotland’s drug using profile
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Types of Drug Use
Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in Scotland. 6% of the population report using it in the last year. Cocaine is next most common - 1.5% reporting use, then ecstasy (1.2%), and amphetamines (1%). Only 0.3% have used heroin and 0.2% have used crack cocaine. Ecstasy use remains stable at around 4-5% of those reporting illicit drug use.
The majority of those seeking treatment for drug misuse report using heroin (93%). Cocaine use has doubled in the last 5 years, as has crack cocaine. Use of heroin has decreased in all areas except the Borders which has seen an increase. The majority of those using cocaine and crack cocaine are resident in Greater Glasgow, Lothian and Lanarkshire.
• More details on drug types
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Polydrug use
Polydrug use is the use of more than one drug at the same time, often with the intention of enhancing or countering the effects of another drug. This is a worrying new trend. Alcohol is very often used in these combinations. A popular combination is alcohol and cocaine, which taken simultaneously produce coca-ethylene, a substance even more toxic to the liver than either substance taken in isolation. SAADAT is a member of the national group for psychostimulants on SACDM.
• Scottish Drug Misuse Database
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Drug Deaths
There were 336 drug-related deaths in 2005 in Scotland. Patterns of drug death have not changed significantly over the last 5 years. Heroin remains our biggest problem and was involved in almost 60% of drug deaths. Methadone and diazepam feature prominently.
Cocaine usage has increased, and correspondingly, so has the number of deaths involving it (almost 20%). One third of all deaths took place in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lothian and Lanarkshire.
Four out of five deaths are people under the age of 45. The majority of deaths are men (77%) but the number of women who are dying from drug deaths is increasing. SAADAT facilitates a Drug-Related Deaths Working Group and is on the National Forum on Drug Deaths.
Full details and statistics on drug deaths:
• Drug Deaths in Scotland 2005
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Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation
Drug treatment can be a controversial issue. Treatments available in Scotland are:
• Residential rehab – this tends to be expensive and often have long waiting lists for residential rehabilitation. Involves the client being away from their home environment.
• Intensive Community
• Methadone –a legal heroin alternative which offers stability to a drug user.
• Counselling – talking through the issues motivating a person to use drugs
• Chemical Implants
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT – used in addressing dependency on
psycho-stimulants such as cocaine.
• Self-help groups
SAADAT sits on the SACDM National Groups on Methadone, Integrated Care and Psychostimulants.
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Hepatitis C
In Scotland, the main route of Hepatitis C transmission is through injecting drug use. Sharing and re-using contaminated injecting equipment is a major form of transmission. Over 85% of people currently diagnosed with the virus have acquired it in this way.
The proportion of injecting drug users who have Hepatitis C is high. It is estimated that between 40 - 60% have the virus. The rate of transmission within this population is also high.
Scotland is focusing on preventing transmission of the virus among injecting drug users. This includes:
• Improving the accessibility and effectiveness of drug treatment and rehabilitation services
• Improving the accessibility and effectiveness of needle exchange / harm reduction services
• Preventing drug use among young people
SAADAT considers the prevention of Hepatitis C to be a priority area of work.
More information on Hepatitis C:
• Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland 2006 |
