Page last updated: 18-DEC-2007

Drugs Misuse


Statistical Publication Notice

18 December 2007

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Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007 link opens in a new window


INTRODUCTION

This publication is the latest annual compilation of available information on drug misuse.  The information is collected from a wide range of national data sources relevant to drug misuse.
 
There are four main sections:
 
  1. Prevalence of drug misuse.  This section includes information from national surveys on reported drug use.
  2. Services and treatment for drug misusers.  This section includes information on individuals presenting to drug treatment services and on prescription statistics.
  3. Health impact of drug misuse.  This section includes information on inpatients and day cases discharged from general hospitals, blood-borne viruses, discharges from psychiatric hospitals, pregnancy and neonatal discharges and drug-related deaths in Scotland.
  4. Drugs and criminal justice.  This section includes information on drug-related offences and court proceedings, criminal justice social work and drug misuse and treatment in Scottish prisons.
Much of the information presented has been published previously by various different organisations.  The report publishes for the first time various ISD data including:
 
  • 2006/07 information from the Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SMR25)
  • 2006/07 information from hospital discharges with a diagnosis of drug misuse (SMR01)
  • 2005/06 information from psychiatric discharges with a diagnosis of drug use (SMR04)
  • Information from general practice (Practice Team Information)
  • 2006/07 information from Prescribing Information System on prescriptions for drug misuse

KEY POINTS

  • In 2006/07, 12,222 ‘new’ individuals were reported to the Scottish Drugs Misuse database (SDMD). This corresponds to a rate of 253 per 100,000 of the Scottish population .
  • During 2006/07 there were 4,620 general acute hospital discharges with a diagnosis of drug misuse, a rate of 94 discharges per 100,000 population.
  • In Scotland in 2006/07 there were 489,447 prescriptions for methadone mixture, around 96 prescriptions per 1,000 population.

INTERPRETATION

Figures from the Scottish Drug Misuse Database are presented in this publication for 2006/07 only.  From April 2006 a new data collection form was introduced (SMR25a).  Changes to the data collection mean that trend information cannot be presented and figures are not directly comparable with those published in previous editions of Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland (see publication for further information).

DETAILED FINDINGS

Scottish Drug Misuse Database
 
  • In 2006/07, 12,222 ‘new’ individuals were reported to the Scottish Drugs Misuse database (SDMD). This corresponds to a rate of 253 per 100,000 of the Scottish population.
  • The male attendance rate was more than twice the female attendance rate (354 per 100,000 population for males, 156 per 100,000 population for females).
  • Of those reporting illicit drug use, 68% reported using heroin (6,756 individuals).
  • Over half (58%) of those under the age of 25 years old reporting illicit drug use reported using heroin.
  • Twenty-eight per cent of all individuals (for whom information is available) reported that they had injected in the month prior to seeking treatment. Forty-three per cent reported that they had never injected.
  • Twenty-nine per cent of current injectors reported that they had shared needles/ syringes in the previous month.
  • Of current injectors: 61% reported that they had been tested for Hepatitis B; 63% for Hepatitis C and 58% for HIV prior to seeking treatment.
Hospital discharges with a diagnosis of drug misuse
 
  • During 2006/07 there were 4,620 general acute hospital discharges with a diagnosis of drug misuse, a rate of 94 discharges per 100,000 population.
  • There has been little change in the rate of discharges with a diagnosis of drug misuse between 2002/03 and 2006/07 (fluctuating between a minimum of 89 discharges per 100,000 population and a maximum of 94 discharges per 100,000 population).
Psychiatric hospital discharges with a diagnosis of drug misuse
 
  • In 2005/06 there were 24,632 psychiatric discharges in Scotland, of which 1,623 had a diagnosis of drug misuse (a rate of 33 discharges per 100,000 population).
  • There has been little change in the rate of psychiatric discharges with either a main or supplementary diagnosis of drug misuse between 2001/02 and 2005/06 (fluctuating between a maximum of 38 per 100,000 population and a minimum of 33 per 100,000 population).
Information from general practice on drug misuse consultations
 
  • In 2005/06, around 1% (158,100) of the estimated 14,729,700 consultations (face-to-face contacts) between patients and GPs related to drug misuse.
  • Of the estimated number of drug misuse GP consultations, 75% were by patients in the two most deprived categories.  Among non-drug misuse GP consultations, 43% were in the two most deprived categories.
Prescription statistics relating to drug misuse
 
  • In Scotland in 2006/07 there were 489,447 prescriptions for methadone mixture, around 96 prescriptions per 1,000 population.  Individuals may have more than one prescription over the year therefore the number of prescriptions is not indicative of the number of individuals.
  • The cost of dispensing methadone mixture (dispensing fees and ingredients) for Scotland in 2006/07 was £12,683,660 around £2,479 per 1,000 population.
  • Methadone prescribing rates have risen by 35% over the last five years, from 71 per 1,000 population in 2002/03 to 96 per 1,000 population in 2006/07.


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MAIN CONTACTS:

Stephen Pavis
Assistant Head of Group
Epidemiology and Statistics Group
0131 275 6670
stephen.pavis@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Laura Blackwood
Senior Information Researcher / Analyst
0131 275 6482
laura.blackwood@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Sita Smith
Principal Information Analyst
0131 275 6794
sita.smith@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

 
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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Scottish Government
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: 19/12/2006
Next Due: December 2008
Data Avaliable Since: 1992


Main contact: Email Stephen Pavis