Scotland's drug problem takes heavy toll

Statistics from Scotland paint a grim picture of the country's drug problem, particularly among older drug users. It is thought that there are around 55,000 'chaotic' drug users in Scotland of whom 15,000 are thought to be over 35. There were 574 drugs-related deaths in Scotland last year, 174 (30%) among 35-44 year-olds and 97 (17%) among people 45 and over. So, despite making up only 25% of the drug-using population people over 35 make up 47% of drug-related deaths. Over time older users are becoming a bigger percentage of drug abusers and can often be overwhelmed by a combination of past experiences and current problems.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8365129.stm