Scotland
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Page last updated April 16, 2023 by Doug McVay, Editor.
1. Overview of Prevalence of Drug Use in Scotland " There has been a statistically significant decline in self-reported illicit drug use between the SCJS 2008/09 and 2014/15 across all three reporting time periods (in the last month, in the last year, and ever). The percentage of adults reporting taking one or more illicit drugs in the last year decreased from 7.6% to 6.0% of adults between 2008/09 and 2014/15. " Reported drug use has fallen for both females and males between 2008/09 and 2014/15, with a decrease in reported illicit drug use in the last year from 11.1% in " In 2014/15, 2.6% of adults reported use of Class A drugs, 5.2% reported use of Class B drugs and 0.5% reported use of Class C drugs in the last year. There has been a statistically significant decline in reported use in the last year of Class A (-0.9 percentage points), Class B (-1.2 percentage points) and Class C (-0.8 percentage points) drugs between 2008/09 and 2014/15. There has also been a statistically significant decline in the use of Class C drugs between the SCJS 2012/13 and 2014/15 (-0.5 percentage points). " Looking at drug use by composite group, 2.8% of adults reported use of stimulants, 0.5% reported use of downers/tranquilisers, 0.5% reported use of psychedelics and 0.2% reported use of opiates in the last year. " There has also been a statistically significant decline in reported use in the last year of composite groups stimulants (-1.1 percentage points) and downers/tranquilisers (-0.7 percentage points) between 2008/09 and 2014/15. " As in the SCJS 2012/13, cannabis is the most commonly used drug with 5.0% of adults reporting use in the last year, however this has fallen from 6.2% in the 2008/09 survey." Laura Robertson, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research. 2014/15 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: Drug Use. Scottish Government Social Research. 2016. |
2. Trends in Self-Reported Drug Use in Scotland "Comparisons with the previous four sweeps of the SCJS [Scottish Crime and Justice Survey] help to put these findings in context and reveals that the percentage of adults reporting using one or more illicit drugs has been declining. Table 2.1 and Figure 2.1 show this decline in the number of adults reporting illicit drug use for all three time periods used in the survey between the SCJS 2008/09 and the SCJS 2014/1510. The decline was significant comparing drug use reported in the 2008/09 survey with that reported in 2014/15. However, there were no statistically significant changes in these results between 2012/13 and 2014/15. In the SCJS 2014/15: " 3.3% of adults reported having used one or more illicit drugs in the last month (the month prior to the survey interview). This is compared with 4.4% in 2008/09, 4.2% in 2009/10; 3.5% in 2010/11; and, 3.3% in 2012/13. " 6.0% of adults reported having used one or more illicit drug in the last year. This is compared with 7.6% in 2008/09, 7.2% in 2009/10; 6.6% in 2010/11; and, 6.2% in 2012/13. " 22.1% of adults reported taking one of more illicit drug at some point in their lives (ever). This is compared with 25.6% in 2008/09, 25.2% in 2009/10; 23.7% in 2010/11; and, 23.0% in 2012/13." Laura Robertson, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research. 2014/15 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: Drug Use. Scottish Government Social Research. 2016. |
3. Prevalence of Use Drugs Other Than Cannabis, Scotland "Looking in more detail at self-reported drug use by composite drug group, i.e. classifying them by shared characteristics, Figure 2.2 shows that: APS Group, "2010/11 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: Drug Use" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Government Social Research, National Statistics, March 2012), DPPAS12744, p. 15. |
4. Prevalence Among Youth by Type of Drug, Scotland "Cannabis was by far the most common drug – particularly among 15 year olds. Ten per cent of 15 year olds and 2% of 13 year olds reported that they had used cannabis in the last month. Very few pupils reported using any other drug. Black, Carolyn, et al., "Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) National Report" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, and Ipsos MORI, Nov. 29, 2011), pp. 5-6. |
5. Drug Offenses in the UK by Offense Type and Country, 2004-2005 to 2012-2013 Click here for complete data table. Reitox Focal Point at Public Health England, United Kingdom Drug Situation 2013 Edition. UK Focal Point on Drugs Annual Report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Oct. 31, 2013, Table 9.1, p. 154. |
6. Cultivation Offenses in Scotland "Data from Scotland show that there has been a large increase in recorded cultivation offences since 2006/07 from 437 to 1,242 in 2011/12 (Scottish Government 2012a). This corresponds to an increase in the number of cannabis plant seizures from 304 in 2006/07 to 970 in 2010/11, the last available year of data (Scottish Government 2008e; 2012d; see section 10.3.1). Analysis carried out by the Association for Chief Police Officers (ACPO) suggest that there were 14,982 cannabis production offences in the UK in 2010/11 (ACPO 2012; see section 10.3.3)." UK Focal Point on Drugs, "United Kingdom Drug Situation 2012 Edition: Annual Report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)" (London, England: UK Government, Department of Health, October 31, 2012), p. 152. |
7. Prevalence of Problem Drug Use, Scotland Problem Drug Use and Its Correlates " The estimated number of individuals with problem drug use in Scotland in 2009/10, aged 15 to 64 years old, was 59,600 (95% CI = 58,300 - 61,000). This represents an increase in estimated numbers of over 4,000 (in 2006 there were estimated to be 55,300 individuals with problem drug use (95% CI = 54,500 – 57,200)) since 2006 (Table 1 and Table 7). Scottish Government, "Estimating the National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Use in Scotland 2009/10" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, Nov. 29, 2012), p. 5. |
8. Trends in Problem Drug Use, Scotland " The estimated prevalence of problem drug use amongst 15 to 64 year olds in Scotland has increased from 1.62% (95% CI = 1.59% - 1.67%) in 2006 to 1.71% (95% CI = 1.67% - 1.75%) in 2009/10. Although the estimate of problem drug use prevalence was higher in 2009/10 compared to 2006, it cannot be said conclusively that actual prevalence has increased. This is due to the fact that the confidence limits shown are very close and do not take into account potential data and methodological differences between the years being compared. However, we can be reasonably sure that actual problem drug use prevalence has not declined since 2006 (Table 7). Scottish Government, "Estimating the National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Use in Scotland 2009/10" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, Nov. 29, 2012), p. 18. |
9. Estimated Number of Problem Drug Users (PDUs) in Scotland "National and local estimates of the prevalence of problem drug use in Scotland for 2009/10 were published in autumn 2011 (ISD Scotland 2011). Estimates are for problematic opiate and/or illicit benzodiazepine use119 amongst individuals aged between 15 and 64 years old. Previous estimates have been published for the calendar years 2000, 2003 and 2006 (Hay et al. 2001; 2004; 2009). UK Focal Point on Drugs, "United Kingdom Drug Situation 2012 Edition: Annual Report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)" (London, England: UK Government, Department of Health, October 31, 2012), pp. 84-85. |
10. All Substance Abuse Treatments Started in Scotland, Oct.-Dec. 2013
"8,611 alcohol treatments were started in Scotland in October-December 2013 (Table 7). Scottish Government, "National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times Report" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, March 25, 2014), p. 6. |
11. Waiting Times for Substance Use Treatment in Scotland, Oct.-Dec. 2013 "Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times Scottish Government, "National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times Report" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, March 25, 2014), p. 5. |
12. Waiting Times for Substance Use Treatment in Prisons in Scotland, Oct.-Dec. 2013 " In October-December 2013, of the 1,192 people who started their first drug or alcohol treatment, 97.5% had waited 3 weeks or less and 78.2% had waited one week or less (Table 1). Scottish Government, "National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times Report" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, March 25, 2014), p. 5. |
13. Syringe Exchange Programs in Scotland
"A total of 269 Injecting Equipment Provision (IEP) outlets responded to the 2010/11 survey. This was an increase from 255 for the 2009/10 survey. Scottish Government, "Injecting Equipment Provision in Scotland Survey 2010/11 (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, July 31, 2012), p. 3. |
14. National Naloxone Program, Scotland "The ‘take-home’ naloxone kits issued in the community may be issued to either: the person at risk of opioid overdose, to family/friends (with the recorded consent of the person at risk) or to a service worker. Figure 1.5 shows, for the total 2,730 kits issued in the community in Scotland in 2011/12, who received the kit. The majority of kits (2,370 or 87% of the total) were issued to persons at risk, 295 (11%) to a service worker, 60 (2%) to family/friends and <1% ‘unknown’ who distributed to (note: the latter will include cases where the recipient was recorded as ‘unknown’ as well as cases where recipient details were missing). Table 1.4 provides a quarterly breakdown of kits issued, by who distributed to (Scotland level in 2011/12), whilst table 1.5 shows the numbers at NHS board level for the whole year. The latter shows that for three of the 13 participating boards kits were distributed only to ‘persons at risk’." Scottish Government, "National Naloxone Programme Scotland Monitoring Report – naloxone kits issued in 2011/12" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, July 31, 2012), p. 8. |
15. Provision of Naloxone to Prisoners on Release in Scotland "Naloxone is issued to prisoners only on release. Prison statistics show that in 2011/12 there were 19,792 liberations from Scottish prisons (Scottish Government, 2012 7). Combined with results from the 2010/11 Addiction Prevalence Testing in Scottish prisons, where opioids were detected in 36% of prisoners tested on reception (ISD Scotland, 20128), this produces an estimate of 7,125 liberations in 2011/12 of prisoners using opioids on admission to custody. When compared with the 715 ‘take home’ naloxone kits issued by prisons in Scotland in 2011/12 as part of the National Naloxone Programme, this gives an estimate of approximately 100 kits issued per 1,000 such liberations, in 2011/12. Scottish Government, "National Naloxone Programme Scotland Monitoring Report – naloxone kits issued in 2011/12" (Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, July 31, 2012), p. 14. |
16. Estimated Drug Control Spending in Scotland, 2013-2014 "In 2013/14, £30.3 million was allocated to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) to support the delivery of improved outcomes for drugs, similar to the figure for the previous year (£30.2 million). Guidance for ADPs on planning and reporting suggests that ADPs should go beyond the reporting of direct Scottish Government investment. Expenditure should map all resources used in responding to the drug problem (CoSLA et al. 2013). This includes criminal justice services, hospital admissions, sexual health and blood-borne virus interventions, and child protection services with the guidance stating that this will 'provide a fuller picture of the full costs of problem drug and alcohol use for local partners and will help inform long term strategic planning and service redesign to support early intervention and prevention.'" Reitox Focal Point at Public Health England, United Kingdom Drug Situation 2013 Edition. UK Focal Point on Drugs Annual Report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Oct. 31, 2013, pp. 34-35. |
17. United Kingdom Drug Strategy
"The United Kingdom Government is responsible for setting the overall strategy and for its delivery in the devolved administrations only in matters where it has reserved power (SQ32). A new drug strategy was launched in December 2010 (HM Government 2010) replacing that of the previous Government, which was published in 2008 (HM Government 2008). The 2010 Strategy places a much greater emphasis on supporting those who are drug dependent to achieve recovery – and also widens the focus on dependence to prescription and over-the-counter medicines and tackling emerging new psychoactive substances (NPS). Within the strategy, policies concerning health, education, housing and social care are confined to England; those for policing and the criminal justice system cover England and Wales. Reitox Focal Point at Public Health England, United Kingdom Drug Situation 2013 Edition. UK Focal Point on Drugs Annual Report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Oct. 31, 2013, pp. 23-24. |
18. Basic UK Drug Laws "The United Kingdom (UK) consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England accounts for 84% of the UK population. A number of powers have been devolved from the United Kingdom Parliament to Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but each has different levels of devolved responsibilities. Reitox Focal Point at Public Health England, United Kingdom Drug Situation 2013 Edition. UK Focal Point on Drugs Annual Report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Oct. 31, 2013, p. 23. |
19. National Drug Strategies for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland "The Scottish Government and Welsh Government’s national drug strategies were published in 2008, the latter combining drugs, alcohol and addiction to prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines. All three strategies aim to make further progress on reducing harm and each focuses on recovery. The Scottish and Welsh strategy documents are also accompanied by an action or implementation plan, providing a detailed set of objectives; actions and responsibilities; expected outcomes; and a corresponding time scale (Scottish Government 2008a; WAG 2008a; WAG 2008b). Each plan reflects the devolution of responsibilities to the national government. UK Focal Point on Drugs, "United Kingdom drug situation: annual report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) 2011" (Lisbon, Portugal: EMCDDA, Nov. 2012), p. 26. |
20. National Naloxone Program, Scotland "The aim of the National Naloxone Programme is to contribute to a reduction in fatal opioid overdoses in Scotland. The rate of drug related deaths in Scotland remains higher than the UK average (9.17 drug related deaths per 100,000 population in Scotland in 2010, compared with 3.1 in the UK1). An earlier investigation into drug related deaths in Scotland and more recent information from Scotland’s national drug related deaths database has shown that the majority of these deaths are opioid related, the majority are ‘accidental overdoses’, the majority are ‘witnessed’ and 50% have been in prison (Zador et al, 20052; Graham et al, 2011 and 2012 3 4). As well as monitoring the supply of ‘take-home’ naloxone kits in Scotland, ISD Scotland were tasked by the Scottish Government to measure the impact of increased naloxone availability on the number of (opioid) drug related deaths in Scotland and, in particular, to monitor the number and percentage of these occurring within four weeks of prison release." Scottish Government, "National Naloxone Programme Scotland Monitoring Report – naloxone kits issued in 2011/12," Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, July 31, 2012. |
21. Providing Naloxone to Prisoners at Risk of Opioid Overdose on Release in Scotland "SPS [Scottish Prison Service] developed an intervention to provide naloxone to prisoners at risk of opioid related overdose on release from prison, as part of the National Naloxone Programme, in recognition of the increased risk of overdose in the first four weeks following release from prison custody. The naloxone is packed in with their personal belongings, which are stored at reception, then supplied to the prisoner on release from custody. Scottish Government, "National Naloxone Programme Scotland Monitoring Report – naloxone kits issued in 2011/12," Edinburgh, Scotland: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland, July 31, 2012. |