Deaths linked to illicit drugs in Scotland increased by 11% last year, reaching a total of 1,133 fatalities. This figure, reported by National Records of Scotland (NRS), was 116 higher than in 2024.
The rise brings the total number of drug-related deaths in Scotland over the past decade to more than 11,000. After adjusting for age, there were 21.4 drug-related deaths per million people in 2025.
Scotland continues to record the worst drug fatality rate in Europe. The NRS measured the death rate among 15-64 year olds at 277 per million in 2025. For comparison, Estonia had the next highest rate in Europe in 2024, with 112 deaths per million, according to the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).
Efforts to reduce fatalities have reportedly been hindered by criminal gangs mixing powerful synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes, with other drugs including heroin, cocaine, and fake Valium pills.