Police Scotland Reports 10% Rise in Suspected Drug Deaths for 2023
Data released by Police Scotland has revealed a concerning increase in suspected drug-related deaths for 2023. The figures show a 10% rise, with 1,197 reported deaths compared to 1,092 in 2022. These statistics are a cause for alarm as they highlight the ongoing struggle with drug-related harm in Scotland.
The data also revealed that the number of deaths among individuals under the age of 25 remained nearly unchanged, with 54 reported in 2023 compared to 55 in 2022. This statistic is particularly worrying, as it shows that young people are still at risk of falling victim to drug-related harm.
In response to these figures, Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, founder and director of the drugs education charity, the DSM Foundation, expressed her deep sadness. As a mother who has lost a child to drugs and a professional dedicated to reducing drug-related harm, she understands the devastating impact of these deaths on families and communities.
Spargo-Mabbs emphasized the importance of providing effective, evidence-based drug education to all young people in Scotland. She highlighted the need for young people to have access to information that equips them to make informed decisions about drugs and reduces the risks and harms associated with drug use.
The DSM Foundation has been working towards this goal by providing drug education resources and workshops to schools and communities. The foundation has also commissioned a play, “I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die” by Mark Wheeller, which tells the story of Dan, a 16-year-old who died from an accidental ecstasy overdose. This play has been performed in schools across Scotland, and the foundation is now piloting a multi-component drug education program in nine schools in the Grampian region.
The success of this program will be evaluated by Aberdeen University, and the findings will be shared at a dissemination event in June. The foundation hopes to make these resources available to schools and communities across Scotland in the future, in order to prevent more tragic deaths.
In conclusion, Spargo-Mabbs stressed the need for drug education to be a core part of any response to drug-related deaths. She acknowledged that prevention takes time to show its impact, but without it, the numbers are likely to continue to rise, resulting in more families losing their loved ones.
The DSM Foundation was established in 2014 after the death of 16-year-old Daniel Spargo-Mabbs from an accidental ecstasy overdose. The foundation aims to provide young people with relevant, evidence-based information about drugs to empower them to make safe choices. They offer workshops for students, webinars for parents and caregivers, and training for school staff, along with the play “I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die” and drug education resources. For more information, visit https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk/.
Media inquiries about this press release or the work of the DSM Foundation should be directed to media@dsmfoundation.org.uk.
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