Fall in the number of drug deaths in West Dunbartonshire last year

The latest statistics show 20 people died in 2022 down from 28 the year before.

It was the fifth highest rate in Scotland as deprived areas suffered more deaths than those that are more affluent.

Only Glasgow, Dundee, Inverclyde and North Ayrshire were higher.

Glasgow City and Dundee City had the highest rates of drug misuse deaths over the last five years while East Renfrewshire and Aberdeenshire had the lowest rates.

Julie Ramsay, Head of Demographic Statistics at National Records of Scotland, said: “Those living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are almost 16 times as likely to die from drug misuse compared to people living in the least deprived areas.”

The official figures show a reduction across Scotland of 279, down to 1051 deaths from 1330 the year before.

Elena Whitham, Scottish Government drug policy minister, said: “While I am pleased to see that hundreds of families have been spared this agony and lives have been saved, every life lost is a tragedy and the number of deaths is still too high."