Drugs

Variety of coloured pills

On this page you will find information on current drugs policy and research, as well as links to relevant NHS Health Scotland resources and related websites.

Policy Information


The Road to Recovery: a New Approach to Tackling Scotland’s Drug Problem (external link)
The Scottish Government´s national drug strategy, published in 2008, focusing on recovery as well as prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, education and protection of children.

The Road to Recovery: One Year On (external link)
A progress report, published in 2009, detailing achievements over the last year following the publication of Scotland´s drugs strategy ´The Road to Recovery´.

Research

National Forum on Drug Related Deaths 2010/11(external link)
This annual report considers new research, examples of good practice, and makes recommendations to the Scottish Government.

Drug related deaths in Scotland in 2010
(external link) from the General Register Office for Scotland.
An annual report on drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2010 providing statistics on drug-related deaths by selected drugs reported by NHS Boards and Council areas.

Drugs and alcohol services in Scotland 2009 (external link)
A report from Audit Scotland providing information on the scale of drug and alcohol misuse, service effectiveness and drug and alcohol partnerships.

Estimating the National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Misuse in Scotland (external link)
Results of the third national study, published in 2009, funded by the Scottish Government to provide estimates of the prevalence of problem drug misuse in Scotland. The estimates refer to calendar year 2006.

Assessing the Scale and Impact of Illicit Drug Markets in Scotland (external link)
This report, published in 2009, provides initial estimates of the size and value of the illicit drugs market and estimates of the social and economic cost of illicit drug use in Scotland for the year 2006.

European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drug Addiction 2011 Report (external link)
This annual report from the European Union presents an assessment of Europe´s drugs problem.

Reviewed April 2013