There has been one drug death a day recorded in Greater Glasgow this year, according to latest police estimates.

There have been 265 suspected drug related deaths in the Greater Glasgow area for the first nine months of 2021 an average of 30 a month.

The police statistics show a slight fall in the number of deaths on the same period in 2020.

Drug deaths have hit record levels in Glasgow and Scotland in recent years, eventually prompting the appointment of a drugs policy minister and a plan of action by the Scottish Government earlier this year.

As well as 265 deaths in Greater Glasgow police division, Lanarkshire recorded 98, Edinburgh City, 86 and the North East, 86.

Glasgow Times:

For Scotland there were more than 1000 deaths in nine months from January to September.

The report stated: “The number of suspected drug deaths during the first nine months of 2021 was 1,007, a slight fall on the first nine months of 2020 where 1,047 suspected drug deaths were recorded.

“While suspected drug deaths have fallen for two consecutive quarters in 2021, there continues to be a general upward trend over the period for which data is available.”

In 2020 the figures showed the re were 1337 drug related deaths in Scotland, another record year, the highest in the UK and the highest in Europe.

Angela Constance, Drug Policy Minister, said: “Firstly, I want to extend my deepest sympathy to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through drugs.

Glasgow Times:

“While there has been a slight downturn in the number of suspected drug deaths, it is still far too high, and I am clear there is much hard work and many challenges ahead if we are to truly turn the tide on this emergency.

“These quarterly reports were commissioned to provide more regular reporting of data on drug death trends in Scotland so everyone involved in our national mission remains focussed on the work we must do to get more people into the treatment which works for them as quickly as possible, regardless of where they live and this afternoon I will update Parliament on progress on the implementation of MAT standards across the country.”

“The £250 million we are investing in tackling this public health emergency will make a difference. I am working to ensure it reaches front-line services as quickly as possible and that every single penny will count as we continue to prioritise our efforts to turn this crisis around.”