Scotland has some of the highest drug and alcohol related death rates in the UK and Europe. Everyone deserves the right care and support for them. This belief drives our person-centred, holistic and trauma-informed approaches.
Public health alert: There is an increase in new types of synthetic opioid drugs called nitazenes in the drug supply, that pose a substantial risk of overdose and death. Find more information and latest RADAR alerts on the Public Health Scotland website.
Actions
We are:
- delivering our strategic plan, to increase focus on alcohol services and care and to prevent drug harms and promote recovery
- building on the implementation of a Minimum Unit Price to reduce alcohol-related harm by making alcohol less affordable
- using person centred approaches via prevention education, involving families, reducing stigma and creating pathways from justice settings to the community
- working in partnership to implement a revised delivery framework
Background
In 2026, the Scottish Government and COSLA jointly published Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s alcohol and drugs strategic plan which sets out our long-term approach to addressing alcohol and drug harms.
The strategic plan represents the next phase in our response to tackling alcohol and drug harms, replacing and building upon the learning and momentum of previous frameworks, including:
- Rights, Respect and Recovery (2018), which aimed to embed a human rights-based and recovery-oriented approach to both alcohol and drugs treatment and support
- the Alcohol Framework (2018), which advanced population-level measures to reduce alcohol-related harm
- the National Mission on Drug Deaths (2021) which prioritised saving and improving lives through urgent and focused action
- the Cross Government Plan on Drugs (2023), which was the response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce and aimed to foster whole-system collaboration and action
Accompanying the plan is:
- a revised partnership delivery framework for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships which provides clarity on roles, responsibilities and scrutiny, and aims to support consistent implementation across local areas
- a national specification for alcohol and drugs services which sets out the minimum service components that must be available within local systems for individuals and families affected by alcohol and drug use across Scotland
Alcohol and drugs support
More information on the health risks of alcohol and drugs and available support can be found on the NHS inform website.
Drinkline Helpline Scotland provides advice for anyone who is worried about their own or someone else’s drinking. Call 08007314314.
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs is a national charity that support families across Scotland who are affected by a loved one’s substance use and raise awareness of the issues affecting them.
With You offer a live chat service seven days a week to speak about drugs, alcohol or mental health.
ALISS is a local information system for Scotland where you can find details of organisations in your area that can help.
Information on drugs and drug use is on the NHS inform website.
The Scottish Drugs Forum is a charity that advocates for evidence-informed harm reduction approaches and has a directory of drug services on their website.
Know the Score offer drugs information and advice. Call 0800 587 5879 for free, confidential information and advice.
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs is a national charity that support families across Scotland who are affected by a loved one’s substance use and raise awareness of the issues affecting them.
Crew offers professional training and Nightlife Harm Reduction services nationally; a Drop-in based in the city centre of Edinburgh in addition to a free person-centred counselling service.
With You offer a live chat service seven days a week to speak about drugs, alcohol or mental health.
Bills and legislation
The classification and control of ‘controlled drugs’ in the United Kingdom is reserved to the UK Government under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
The Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Order 2018 came into force on 1 May 2018. The Order specifies the minimum price per unit for alcohol (50 pence).
The Alcohol Minimum Pricing Scotland Act 2012 was passed in June 2012 and paved the way for the introduction of a preferred minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol.
The Alcohol (Scotland) Act 2010 put into law a ban on multi-buy discounts such as ‘three for two’ or ‘25 per cent off when you buy six’.
The main piece of legislation that controls the sale of alcohol is the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Contact
Email: Central Enquiries Unit ceu@gov.scot
Post:
Alcohol and Drugs Team
Scottish Government
3E, St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG