The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) notes statistics released from National Records of Scotland today (22 August) which show 1,051 people died due to drug misuse in Scotland last year, which is the lowest level for five years.

Over the last few months, Scottish Government have been working with partners to ensure that naloxone (which can rapidly reverse opiate overdose) is more readily available in emergencies including from community pharmacies across Scotland.  This is recommendation one of RPS’s policy statement on Pharmacy’s Role in Reducing Harm and Preventing Drug Deaths.

Commenting on the newly released statistics, Laura Wilson, Director of RPS Scotland, said:

“Every death from drug misuse is a tragedy for the individual as well as family, friends, and their wider community. Whilst the number of people dying from drug misuse in Scotland is at its lowest level for five years, the numbers are still far too high.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published a policy statement with fourteen recommendations to reduce harm from drugs and drug deaths.

I welcome the initial steps Scottish Government has taken, particularly to expand the availability of naloxone within community pharmacies for emergency use, and look forward to working with all stakeholders to progress some of our other recommendations; including providing access to patient records for pharmacists to enhance patient safety, managing patients’ transitions between care settings and the introduction of safer consumption facilities.”