The number of people in Tayside to die from suspected illegal drug use between January and March 2022 has dropped from the same period last year.
The new figures released by the Scottish Government reveal that 25 passed away in the first three months of this year, five less than in 2021.
However the statistics, published on Tuesday, show that there is a rise compared to the October to December period (18) and the July to September period (17) last year.
The April to June period had the highest number of suspected deaths in 2021 with 34.
Of the 13 police divisions, Tayside has the fifth highest number of deaths in Scotland for the first three months of 2022, with Greater Glasgow recording the highest number with 50 deaths.
The capital had the second highest with 31 Edinburgh deaths, then Lanarkshire on 29 and then Ayrshire on 27.
The quarterly numbers are measured using statistics recorded by Police Scotland and include deaths that officers suspect involved the use of illicit drugs.
A total of 285 Scottish people died from suspected illegal drug use in the first quarter of 2022, representing a 27 per cent drop from the start of last year.
Responding to the figures, Scottish Labour drug policy spokesperson and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker said while the “early signs” are there that the issue is being tackled, the number of deaths is “still tragically high”.
“Although it is positive to see early signs that we are finally tackling this public health emergency, the number of people losing their lives to drug use is still tragically high,” she added.
“Every single drug-related death is one too many and so while any progress should be welcomed, there is no room for complacency.
“The Scottish Government must keep their eye on the ball and use every power at their disposal to support communities and prevent lives being lost and destroyed by drug use.”
Deputy first minister and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney responded: “Whilst it is encouraging that overall drug deaths have reduced, and that the number of drugs deaths is down 27 per cent in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021, there is clearly still much work to be done.
“Every drug death is a tragedy and the Scottish Government remains fully committed to using all powers at our disposal to address this public health emergency.
“Indeed, we are absolutely clear that one drug death is one too many.
“It is for this reason that we have allocated an additional £250m of funding to tackle this issue, in addition to creating a minister within the Scottish Government responsible specifically for drugs policy.
“I hope that we are now beginning to see the benefits of this significant investment, and that we can continue to see drug deaths fall in the months and years ahead.”
