National Mission on Drugs: annual report 2025 to 2026

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

10.1 Understanding impact

The National Mission on Drugs: Annual Monitoring Report provides an analysis of the progress made towards the National Mission on Drugs within each financial year. It provides a robust statistical backdrop to better understand and monitor progress and complements this publication which outlines the activity, developments and achievements made towards the National Mission over the same period. A broad range of policies and initiatives have been introduced under the National Mission. Within the scope of a quantitative monitoring report, it is not possible to attribute any observed changes in individual outcomes to specific interventions. However, it is possible to explore individual metrics to understand whether changes have occurred since the start of the National Mission and, where available, to compare these with previous trends.

Due to publication timeframes of data sources, as well as the need to ensure direct attribution of policy initiatives is not inferred, to date this annual monitoring report has been produced as a standalone publication by Scottish Government’s Health and Social Care Analysis Division. The National Mission on Drugs Annual Monitoring Report 2024/25 Monitoring Report was published in summer 2026 with a final monitoring report covering the period up to the end of the National Mission in March 2026 published in due course. There remain gaps in our data relating to drugs, including those which limit the extent to which current data can assess progress towards National Mission outcomes. The Strategic Plan includes a commitment to develop a data and evidence roadmap to align with the priorities in the Plan, respond to emerging public health concerns, and improve performance management.

10.2 Evaluation

PHS was commissioned by the Scottish Government to evaluate the National Mission in 2022. The evaluation sets out to understand what is (and is not) working well in the National Mission and to enable the Scottish Government to be accountable to the Scottish Parliament and the public about the impact of the National Mission.

In 2024, PHS published an evaluation framework which sets out key evaluation questions and a theory of change.

The evaluation adopts a National Mission-wide perspective, while also exploring specific programmes where appropriate. Spanning the period from 2021 to 2026, it draws on available data and evidence alongside the views and experiences of stakeholders and key delivery partners.

While this 2025-26 National Mission Annual Report focuses on activity and developments during 2025/26, the independent evaluation of the National Mission undertaken by PHS covers the full period 2021 to 2026. Given publication timelines the final synthesis evaluation has not been used as a reference for this annual report.

The final evaluation synthesis report is expected to be published in the coming months.

Additionally, interim reports include the following:

• Frontline staff survey (May 2024), and Follow-up staff survey (March 2026)
• Briefing on third party evaluations (July 2024),
• Key informant interviews (December 2024),
• ADP coordinator survey (February 2025)
• Lived experience survey (July 2025)
• Family support study (March 2026)
• Economic Evaluation (July 2026)

10.2.1 Evaluation of the Residential Rehabilitation programme

As part of the National Mission evaluation, PHS undertook an evaluation of residential rehabilitation, with the aim of assessing the impact of the programme – on how residential rehab is organised, how easily it can be accessed and how well it delivers for individuals with substance use issues across Scotland.

The final report was published on 15 September 2026.