According to an article from the Scotsman newspaper in Scotland, figures show that the drug death toll has reached record highs in that country. There was an increase in the deaths of older users.
What health experts there refer to as the “trainspotting generation,” they say is responsible for the increase in deaths. This generation is the one that starting injecting heroin in the late 1980s and 1990s in Scotland.
“A new report shows drug deaths have increased by more than a quarter in the past year, with the number of fatalities rising significantly among older people.”
The deaths related to drug abuse have raised a whopping 131 percent over the past ten years in Scotland, leading the government to start thinking about taking urgent action towards the problem.
“Figures show the 35-44 age bracket made up 30 per cent of drug-related fatalities and 37 per cent were aged between 25 and 34 years old.”
In Scotland the number of deaths rose much faster in the 35-44 age bracket and also in the 45 and older age bracket.
“Experts said Scotland was dealing with a legacy reaching as far back as the late 1970s and 1980s, when many people began experimenting with drugs for the first time. Those injecting drugs such as heroin 20 years ago are now inheriting a range of serious health problems, including heart and respiratory illnesses, which, in some cases, are leading to premature death.”
Heroin and morphine were the cause of most of the deaths reported in the country, especially among men. Drug users are dying in Scotland because of a lack of care and treatment, according to the article. The article states that because of a lack of services in the country drug users are waiting upwards of two years to receive treatment and that is why addicts are dying, the lack of drug rehab programs available.
thanks for the post.
I’d like to say it amazes me that drug use and abuse 20 years ago is now wreaking havoc on this particular seagment of the population, but it doesn’t. It is statistically accurate based on findings here in the United States. Education and treatment options would lower those stats easily.