A generation failed as rate of drug-related hospital stays triple
A Scottish charity has warned we are “failing a generation” as the rate of drug-related hospital stays triples in just more than two decades.
From 1996/97 to 2018/19 the rate of hospital admissions per 100,000 people increased three fold from 73 to 260, according new statistics from Public Health Scotland.
David Lid dell, CEO of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said there should be concern that “just as one group was failed in the past we are now failing another generation”.
There has also been a sharp increase in drug-related stays of 75 per cent in the six years from 2012/13.
The data is taken from hospital administrative systems across NHS Scotland, and relate to all inpatient and day cases. Maternity, neonatal and geriatric long stays are not included, nor are visits to Accident and Emergency.
As the most recent data is from 2018/19, the figures do not reflect the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Liddell said :“These statistics reflect the reality of groups of people in Scotland. One is a group of people who have had a drug problem for many years and use combinations of drugs – principally opiates like heroin and benzodiazepines and, more recently, cocaine.
"As they age their health problems are becoming more complex – they have the conditions associated with ageing and in many cases are developing these at a younger age than the rest of the population. For this group simple infections can become complicated and require a hospital stay.”
There has also been an increase in young people admitted to hospital for drug use. Patient rates for 15-24-year-olds increase from 126 per 100,000 in 2012/13 to 206 in 2018/19.
In 2018/19, approximately half of the patients with a drug-related general acute or psychiatric hospital stay lived in the 20 per cent of most deprived areas in Scotland.
Mr Lid dell added :“There should be concern that just as one group was failed in the past we are now failing another generation.” a Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Although these statistics predate the pandemic, they continue to show that drug and alcohol support must be maintained as priority services and we have ensured those at risk have access to these services.”