The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) reveal that 2025 saw 116 more deaths linked to drug use than the previous year, marking the steepest year‑on‑year rise in the latest reporting period.
Scotland’s drug‑poisoning death rate remains the highest across Europe; 2024 data – the most recent year for which comparable UK statistics exist – show the Scottish rate is 2.4 times that of England, 1.6 times higher than Northern Ireland and 1.5 times greater than Wales.
Polydrug use is a dominant factor, with 78% of the deaths involving more than one substance. Deaths where cocaine was present rose by 23% to a total of 589, highlighting a growing role for the stimulant in the country’s overdose crisis.
Health Minister Humza Yousaf’s deputy, Ms. Todd, said that despite a raft of policy interventions and the dedication of frontline workers, the surge in fatalities signals that “much more” must be done. She urged the UK Government to devolve additional drug‑policy powers to Scotland, arguing that only with greater authority can drug harms be treated fully as a public‑health issue.
The call for transferred powers comes amid mounting pressure on Westminster to address the stark regional disparity in drug‑related deaths, and could shape future UK‑wide drug‑policy negotiations.