Government under fire as drug-related stays in hospital triple

The rate of drug-related hospital stays per population in Scotland has tripled in the past two decades.

There were 282 drug-related hospital stays per 100,000 people in 2019-20, the latest figures from Public Health Scotland Show. In 1997-98, the figure was 88 per 100,000.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Colehamilton called the figures a “scandal”, warning that a “damaging legacy of underfunding” will have negative effects for years to come.

It comes ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate on tackling drug-related deaths to be held tomorrow.

The new figures showed 14,976 drug-related hospital stays in 2019-20, of which 86 per cent were in general acute hospitals and 14 per cent were in psychiatric hospitals. Just under half of stays were as a result of opioids. The rate of opioid-related stays has quadrupled since 1996-97.

The statistics also show the disparity between the rich and poor in terms of the rate of hospital stays, with the figure for the most deprived standing at 742.42 per 100,000 compared to 45.65 for the most well off.

The drug-related patient rate for under 25s was 99 patients per 100,000 of population. This rate has gradually risen since 2012-13, when it was 55 per 100,000 population.

Public Health Scotland also said it had seen a “notable increase” in the percentage of psychiatric hospital stays attributed to cannabinoids in recent years.

Mr Cole-hamilton said: “These figures show that the damaging legacy of underfunding will see ripple effects for years to come. The drugs deaths scandal sadly looks set to continue.

“It took too long for the Scottish Government to step up and see the deadly reality of Scotland’s drugs deaths crisis. Pathways for support were shut down.”

He added: “We need to see concrete actions, like a Scotland-wide network for the provision of heroin assisted treatment and a clear commitment to the principle of diversion. The new minister must move quickly to turn this around.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “We have said a national mission is needed to tackle the drug deaths emergency and we have allocated an additional £250 million over the next five years to improve and increase access to services for people affected by drug addiction.”