Please click on each section below to expand and access links.

Overviews
Drug-related deaths and mortality

Source: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

Prevention of drug-related deaths

Source: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

Opioid overdose

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

Overdose Prevention

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Understanding and preventing drug-related deaths [PDF]

Source: Public Health England (PHE) (2016)

Scotland’s unique challenge

Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce


Clinical resources
Management of poisoning or overdose

Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

The importance of non-fatal overdose in reducing drug related deaths

Source: British Journal of Pain (2022) via National Library of Medicine

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards: access, choice, support

Source: Population Health Directorate, The Scottish Government (2021)

Targeted Distribution of Naloxone

Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce [Archived]

What is naloxone? Learn about the overdose reversal drug

Source: Change Grow Live

Use of long-acting injectable buprenorphine for opioid substitution therapy

Source: Healthcare Improvement Scotland / SIGN

Public safety-led post-overdose outreach programs

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Publications and resources

Source: Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF)

Video resources [YouTube]

Source: Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF)


Trauma informed care and avoiding stigma
Substance use resource for trauma informed practice

Source: NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach

Source: Improvement Service

Coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse

Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

Substance use and mental health concerns - The Way Ahead: rapid review recommendations

Source: The Scottish Government (2022)

How stigma and discrimination link to rise in drug deaths among Scotland’s poorest

Source: The Conversation [Author: Iain McPhee] (2021)

A strategy to address the stigmatisation of people and communities affected by drug use [PDF]

Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce (2020)

Stigma reduction

Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)


Examples of good practice and innovation
Examples of innovation

Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce

Non Fatal Overdose Pathway

Source: Positive Steps

Using digital technology to prevent drug related deaths

Source: Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (2020)

ADP and homeless programme: reducing harm, improving care

Source: Healthcare Improvement Scotland

Innovation and collaboration: Blackpool’s approach to addressing drug-related deaths [PDF]

Source: Delphi Medical (2020)

Improving clinical responses to drug-related deaths - A summary of best practice and innovations from drug treatment providers

Source: Collective Voice and the NHS Substance Misuse Provider Alliance via HRB National Drugs Library (2017)


Relevant reports
Drug deaths in Scotland: an increasingly medical problem [PDF]

Source: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) (2021)

Detailed findings of our final report

Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce

European Drug Reports

Source: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

National drugs mission plan: 2022-2026

Source: The Scottish Government (2022)

Independent review of drugs by Dame Carol Black

Source: UK Government (2020)

Independent review of drugs by Dame Carol Black: Government response

Source: UK Government (2021)

Drugs policy report [PDF]

Source: House of Commons, Health and Social Care Committee (2019)

Drugs-related deaths rapid evidence review

Source: Public Health Scotland (2017)

Changing Lives - Our Final Report [PDF]

Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce (2022)

Taskforce Funded Projects

Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Task Force

IONA study

Source: EMERGE