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 deaths and the involvement of illicit drugs
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Understanding and preventing drug-related deaths [PDF]
Source: Public Health England (PHE)
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 via National Library of Medicine
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards: access, choice, support
Source: Population Health Directorate, The Scottish Government
Targeted Distribution of Naloxone
Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce
Take Home Naloxone in social care services [PDF]
Source: Care Inspectorate
Use of long-acting injectable buprenorphine for opioid substitution therapy [PDF]
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)
Trauma informed practice companion documents
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
How stigma and discrimination link to rise in drug deaths among Scotland’s poorest
Source: The Conversation (Author: Iain McPhee)
A strategy to address the stigmatisation of people and communities affected by drug use [PDF]
Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce
Stigma reduction
Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Examples of good practice and innovation
Examples of innovation
Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce
Positive living outreach service
Source: Positive Steps (Dundee Non-fatal Overdose Pathway)
Using digital technology to prevent drug related deaths
Source: Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre
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
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
Relevant reports
Drug deaths in Scotland: an increasingly medical problem [PDF]
Source: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE)
European drug report 2022
Source: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
National drugs mission plan: 2022-2026
Source: The Scottish Government
Independent review of drugs by Dame Carol Black
Source: UK Government
Independent review of drugs by Dame Carol Black: Government response
Source: UK Government
Drugs policy report [PDF]
Source: House of Commons, Health and Social Care Committee
Drugs-related deaths rapid evidence review
Source: Public Health Scotland
Changing Lives - final report
Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce
Funding and key projects
Source: Scottish Drug Deaths Task Force
IONA study
Source: EMERGE