Wednesday December 16th 2020
Drugs deaths in Midlothian have doubled in the last 10 years, with 18 deaths recorded last year.
The latest statistics from the National records for Scotland revealed that the number of drug-related deaths in the county in 2019 was 18 compared to 14 in 2018.
But it also revealed that the number of deaths was double those recorded in 2009.
In total, 13 men and five women died from drugs-related deaths in Midlothian last year.
Heroin was recorded in connection with seven of the deaths, with 16 in total involving opiates.
Two-thirds of the deaths involved the use of ‘street benzodiazepine’, or street valium as it is more commonly known, with only one recording alcohol as a factor.
Across Scotland, the number of drug deaths increased to its highest recorded last year with 1,264 deaths – more than double what it was a decade ago.
Most of the increases in deaths occurred in the 35-44 age group, with a rise in deaths among those aged 45 to 54 also recorded.
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