Eight-year low for drugs deaths

Figures show a fall overall but a rise in cocaine-related deaths

Drug-related deaths in Scotland have dropped to their lowest level in eight years, according to new findings.

Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry welcomed the figures but warned against complacency in the war against drugs.

General Register Office statistics on drug-related deaths showed that there were 336 fatalities last year compared with 356 in 2004.

Despite the drop in deaths overall, fatalities involving cocaine had risen from 38 in 2004 to 44 last year.

Figures were recorded according to the main drug involved but in many cases deaths were caused by a combination of drugs.

As long as there are drugs on our streets, then there is the potential for deaths to rise again Hugh Henry Deputy Justice Minister

Mr Henry said: "Every death associated with drug misuse is a tragedy and reminds us that drug abuse is a blight on the lives of too many families and communities across Scotland.

"I am pleased to see that the figures for drug-related deaths have fallen but we cannot be complacent. As long as there are drugs on our streets, then there is the potential for deaths to rise again. Our efforts must be relentless.

"Educating young people about the dangers of drugs and providing them with opportunities to make positive life choices must always be the starting point of our drugs strategy."

Mr Henry said an anti-cocaine advertising campaign which ran last year had proved successful and would be re-run later this year.

Figures disputed

He also said that the Scottish Executive was working with publicans in Glasgow to find ways to get the message to people most at risk of taking or being exposed to cocaine.

However, the Scottish Conservatives claimed the figures were misleading as they related to a seven-year low involving illegal drugs.

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said: "The war against drugs is far from won, indeed the Scottish Executive's own target was to reduce the number of fatalities to 218 or fewer by the end of 2004.

"The 2005 total of 336 shows just how far off track they are."

SNP health spokeswoman Shona Robison said there was some hard work ahead to tackle the country's drugs problems.

She added: "Drugs are a plague on our communities which is why next year an SNP government will prioritise rehabilitation and counselling services for those with addictions and will tackle the root cause of many drugs addictions, social deprivation."