Scotland sees increase of 500 drug-related hospital admissions in latest figures

The number of drug-related hospital stays rose by almost 500 in the last year, according to official figures.

There were 7,537 hospital admissions with a diagnosis of drug misuse in 2015/16, up from 7,054 in the previous year.

The number of patients involved increased from 5,404 to 5,922 over the same period.

Of these, 3,275 were new patients in 2015/16, up from 2,899 in the previous year.

Figures show the n umber and rate of drug-related hospital admissions has increased from 41 to 143 stays per 100,000 population between 1996/97 and 2015/16.

Over the same period, a dmissions among older drug users have increased, with a 15-fold rise from 20 to 291 patients per 100,000 population among 40 to 44-year-olds.

The most recent data shows around six in 10 admissions were due to opioids such as heroin.

Around half of patients with either a hospital or psychiatric stay in relation to drug misuse lived in the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland.

Responding to the figures, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “The increase in the number of people admitted to hospital as a result of drug misuse shows just how far we have to go if we are to tackle Scotland’s substance abuse problem. All the evidence suggests that the current approach to drugs is not working.

“With the number of drug deaths at a record high, those who are able to receive care through our NHS might consider themselves the lucky ones. With SNP cuts to drug and alcohol services starting to bite, the concern has to be that more vulnerable people will miss out on the support they need.

“Helping people get clean and kick their habits must be the priority. It is time that we started treating drug misuse as a medical issue.”

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