Publication - Progress report

National Mission: annual report 2024-2025

Published: 19 September 2025
From: Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Health and social care
ISBN: 9781836919506

Sets out the progress made between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 by national government, local government and third sector partners towards reducing drug deaths and improving the lives of those impacted by drugs in Scotland.

Supporting documents

1. Introduction

1.1 Overview

On 20th January 2021, the former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made a statement to Parliament which set out a National Mission to reduce drug deaths and improve lives through a range of improvements to treatment, recovery and other support services.

This fourth annual report sets out the progress made from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 against the National Mission Plan. A separate analytical report monitoring the progress of the National Mission over the same timeframe will be published early in 2026 once all data points are available.

The National Mission annual report is structured to relate to the six outcomes and six cross-cutting priorities in the National Mission Plan, as well as, finance, reporting, monitoring and evaluation. Outcomes and cross-cutting priorities chapters have the following format: an overview provides context, including data, to understand the scope and purpose of the outcome.

The loss of lives as a result of drugs in Scotland is devastating, and the latest statistics are a very harsh reminder of challenges we continue to face.

From the National Records Scotland report on drug-related deaths in Scotland, in 2024, there were 1,017 drug misuse deaths registered in Scotland. This was a decrease of 13% (155 deaths) compared with 2023. Drug deaths are still much more common than they were in 2000. After adjusting for age, there were 19.1 drug misuse deaths per 100,000 people in 2024. This is 3.6 times as high as when the series began in 2000.

Line graph showing an upward trend in drug misuse deaths from 1996 to 2010, with a downward trend in drug misuse deaths for 2021 and 2022, and then a slight upward trend again for 2023, then a downward trend for 2024. — Figure 1: Drug misuse deaths decreased in 2024

Source: National Records of Scotland

In 2023 (the most recent data available for the UK as a whole), the rate of drug poisoning deaths in Scotland1 was around two to three times the rate of other UKcountries. This is similar to the longer term trend, with Scotland having a higher drug death rate than other parts of the UK for the last decade.

While we are encouraged by the drop in drug deaths in 2024, suspected drug deaths remain at a high level. Police Scotland management information provides an indication of recent trends in suspected drug deaths in Scotland. There were 607 suspected drug deaths during the first six months of 2025. This was 3% (18) more than during the same period of 2024.

We are increasingly concerned about the dynamic changes in the drug supply and rise in potent synthetic opioids such as nitazenes which pose a substantial risk of overdose, drug-related hospitalisation and drug-related death. Our Rapid Action Drug Alert and Response (RADAR) first issued a warning for nitazenes in March 2023, and since then, detections of nitazenes has continued to rise and further alerts have been issued for nitazenes, bromazolam and xylazine.

The Scottish Government recognises the ongoing threat posed by synthetic opioids and is providing an emergency response. In 2024-25, we continued working with PHS and the National Drug Death Incident Management Team (NDDIMT), which has now issued guidance on the management of clusters of drug related harms. We have also been working with partners to understand the efficacy of nitazene test strips to inform national guidance on their use. More information on our approach to synthetics can be found at 4.2.4. We continue to develop our surveillance landscape (see 2.2.4) and to progress drug checking facilities (see 4.2.3).

1.2 Taskforce Response/Cross Government Approach

In July 2022, the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce published its final report, Changing Lives, containing 20 recommendations and 139 actions. It called for the Scottish Government to respond to the report within six months. The Taskforce was clear that change is needed, and that change is possible. This change will require a whole system, cross-government approach.

We published our response, Drug Deaths Taskforce Response: A Cross Government Approach, in January 2023, which set out a number of actions to be taken forward across portfolios. Alongside this, a detailed response to each of the 139 actions was provided.

Our response contained 3 sections: section one covered the recommendations that require a cross-government approach, section two covered the recommendations that are specific to drugs policy and services, and section three sets out the stigma action plan (see section 2.2.3 for more details).

Two transformational principles underpin our response. Across government, we are committed to:

treating problem drug use as any other health condition is treated, insofar as is possible within devolved competence, and
ensuring people affected by substance use are involved in government policy and strategy development that affects them.

This year, we have provided an updated response to the taskforce recommendations as a separate Annex to this report.

1.3 National Mission Partners

The National Mission is a collective endeavour. We work with key partners across public policy and beyond. Our key stakeholders and partners are detailed below.

Integration Authorities (IAs) are responsible for integrating certain health and social care services provided by or for Area Health Boards and Local Authorities such as alcohol and drug services. IAs have oversight of planning, designing, and commissioning services and ensure the design and delivery of efficient, integrated services. IAs were established in 2014 in each local council area and, except in Highland, have been established as Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) and in many local areas the integrated services are identified as being provided by a Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) rather than separately though Health Boards and Local Authorities.

Area Health Boards (HBs) are responsible for the prevention and the treatment of disease. HBs have delegated responsibility for specific healthcare functions and related budgets to IAs, and this includes some care and support functions for people impacted by substance use.

National Health Boards are specialised and include Public Health Scotland, Health Improvement Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Local Authorities (LAs) are responsible for providing social care and social work services, including support services for people impacted by substance use, and have delegated responsibility for specific functions and related budgets to IAs.

Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) are multi-disciplinary, non-statutory partnerships established at local authority level to bring together organisations (including statutory and third sector organisations, the Police, and the Scottish Prison Service) that are all working to tackle alcohol and drug issues locally.

Key Third Sector Partners (KTSPs ) provide vital expertise and services to support those with substance use problems and their families. This includes peer-led delivery of services and maintaining recovery communities.

Crew (Scotland) is a nationwide public health charity that aims to reduce the harm and stigma associated with psychostimulant drug use.
Scottish Drugs Forum is a drugs policy and information agency, working to reduce drugs harm in Scotland and provide a wide range of training and support to people who use substances and to people working in the sector.
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs support families across Scotland who are affected by a loved one’s substance use, raising awareness of the issues affecting them as well as providing learning and training to people working in the sector.
Scottish Recovery Consortium is a recovery-oriented charity that builds and promotes recovery in Scotland.
With You is a charity that provides free confidential support to people who are experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol, or mental health.

Other third sector organisations are also supported via grant funding and make an invaluable contribution to delivery.

Corra Foundation deliver funding programmes for grass roots and third sector organisations for the National Mission on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Justice partners including Police Scotland, Crown Office, and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Scottish Prison Service and Community Justice Scotland.

1.4 Key publications and milestones

Cross-Cutting Priorities

Lived Experience at the Heart

Equalities and Human Rights

Tackle Stigma Surveillance and Data Informed

Resilient and Skilled Workforce

Psychologically Informed

Contact

Email: drugsmissiondeliveryteam@gov.scot

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