Scottish government under pressure as drug deaths fell by just nine in 2021

Heart-breaking' figures are first decrease since 2013 but raise questions over slow progress

The Scottish government remains under huge pressure to deliver on its national mission" to save lives as new figures show drug-related deaths fell by just nine, or 1%, to 1,330 in 2021.

Described as heart-breaking" and shameful" by politicians and campaigners, the latest figures from National Records of Scotland are the first decrease since 2013 but still the second highest annual total on record. They raise further questions about why attempts to address what has long been acknowledged as a public health emergency are making slow progress.