NRS says its methodology produces “similar” outcomes to EUDA’s count of “drug-induced deaths”, with the caveat that the two methods use slightly different lists of drugs.
When comparing Scotland with the rest of the UK, NRS uses a wider measure of age-adjusted drug poisoning deaths.
This includes all deaths where the underlying cause was listed as mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance abuse or poisoning by drugs whether accidental, intentional, of unknown intent or as a result of assault.
The most recent comparable data are for 2024 and show that Scotland had an age-adjusted death rate of 216 per million compared with 91 for England, 140 for Wales and 135 for Northern Ireland.
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Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmwyz2pvw058o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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