Drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2008

Table 3 Drug-related deaths by selected drugs reported1, Scotland, 1996 - 2008

Year	Heroin / morphine ²	Methadone	Benzodiazepines			Cocaine	Ecstasy	Amphetamines	Alcohol
			Any benzodiazepine	*of which:*
			Any benzodiazepine	Diazepam	Temazepam
1996-2000 average	128	74	..	116	47	6	7	..	91
1996	84	100	..	84	48	3	9	..	87
1997	74	86	..	93	33	5	2	..	70
1998	121	64	..	113	58	4	3	..	86
1999	167	63	..	142	56	12	8	..	89
2000	196	55	164	146	39	4	11	3	123
2001	216	69	182	156	20	19	20	5	140
2002	248	98	245	214	16	31	20	13	156
2003	175	87	186	153	35	29	14	10	128
2004	225	80	140	113	5	38	17	10	116
2005	194	72	110	90	7	44	10	11	114
2006	260	97	94	78	10	33	13	11	131
2007	289	114	109	79	4	47	11	11	157
2008	336	181	364	317	12	79	7	12	273
Annual averages:
2003-2007	229	90	128	103	12	38	13	11	129
2004-2008	261	109	163	135	8	48	12	11	158

1. More than one drug may be reported per death. These are mentions of each drug, and should not be added to give total deaths.
Up to 2007, some pathologists reported only those drugs which they thought caused, or contributed to, the death
With effect from 2008, pathologists were asked to report all the drugs which were found to be present in the body.
This accounts for most (if not all) of the apparent large increases for (e.g.) benzodiazepines, diazepam and alcohol.
There may be other differences between years and/or areas in the way in which the information was produced - see Section 2.
2. See paragraph 3.3.1 of commentary.

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