Suspected drug deaths rise by 8%

Commenting on new figures showing that there were 1,146 suspected drug deaths in 2025, an 8% rise from 2024, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"Every drug-related death in Scotland is a tragedy, but to see the number of deaths rising yet again is an outrage.

"After years of SNP failure to end our national drug emergency, it's long past time for a new approach. Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for radical action to address this decades-long national crisis, championing safe consumption facilities and securing better support for new mothers and babies born addicted to drugs.

"The Scottish Government needs to properly fund drug and alcohol services, move faster on pill-checking, and ensure emergency naloxone kits are available in public places.

"Scotland needs and deserves world-class drug services to end this crisis and save thousands of lives."