Glasgow

Inverclyde, in 2015-2016 had the highest rate of problem drug users in the Glasgow city  region.  More recent figures , from 2022, show that there were 1,051 drug misuse deaths registered by coroners in Scotland. This was a reduction from 279 in 2021 which represents a 21% downturn. 

For the financial year 2021-2022, the death rate in Scotland due to drugs and alcohol were the highest since records begun. While the recent reductions are a positive sign, since the year 2000 there were 3.7 times more drug deaths in 2022 than there were in 2020. 

In 2022, men were twice as likely to die from drug misuse then women. The ages of the cohort with the highest drug related deaths also raised from 32-45 and those from deprived areas are sixteen times more likely to die from drug misuse than those in less deprived areas. 

After adjusting the figures to take ages into account, Glasgow City, as well as Dundee City, had the highest rates of drug misuse deaths. East Renfrewshire and Aberdeenshire had the lowest. In 2022, the most common type of drug implicated were opioids which were associated with 82% of all deaths. 89% of drug misuse deaths were recorded, by the coroner, as accidental and 7% as intentional overdose. 

With regards to alcohol, Glaswegians drink, on average, around  12 units a week which is very slightly lower than the average for Scotland which is 13. Edinburgh has the highest at 15 units a week. Men in Scotland tend to drink more than women. 

20% of all adult in Glasgow drink more than the recommended 14 units a week which is slightly lower than Scotland as a whole, which stands at 24%.  Up to 30% of all males in Glasgow exceed the recommended NHS guidelines of 14 units a week though Edinburgh has the highest rate of people drinking over this 

Similarly, men were more likely than women to report drinking more than 14 units a week across Scotland, with 30% of men in Glasgow exceeding the recommendation, and 14% of women. Edinburgh had the highest rate of people exceeding the recommendation, particularly for males with 43%.

Statutory drug and alcohol services in Glasgow are provided through the NHS 

Web:nhsggc.scot/your-health/right-care-right-place/addictions/

For fee paying/private clients treatment centres in Scotland can 

be accessed, sometimes, within a couple of hours. There are not as

many private centres in Scotland, pro rata the size of the country, as there

are in England. Wales also has the same problem. As such, it may be necessary

to travel. Also, centres in Scotland can be more costly than those in England, 

even when taking travel into consideration. 

Clinic chains and referral agents will advertise that they have centres all over Scotland. Take it from me, this is simply not the case. They use post box addresses and serviced office reception services to try and give the impression that they have services in every town: They don’t. It is a way to manipulate web traffic. Often, they use images of centres, without permission. ​

To discuss your needs, in total confidence (and without charge) call and speak to Paul. He has three decades experience , as an addiction clinician, with many years experience of prescribing for those in addiction and referring clients into private residential centres as well as working in them.