The number of eligible children taking up the offer of a free school meal has increased for the second year running, according to the latest statistics.
More than two thirds of those eligible (67.7%) were able to benefit from a balanced and nutritious meal as part of their school day in 2023-24, up over three percentage points on the previous year (64.3%).
In August 2025, the free school meals programme was extended to 6,000 high school students in S1 to S3, backed by £3 million from the Scottish Government. This trial phase is for those in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment who attend selected schools in eight local authority areas, and takes the number of pupils being offered free school meals in Scotland to over 360,000.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Jenny Gilruth said: “We know how important it is for children to have access to a healthy meal during the day, and the role that nutrition plays in supporting their ability to concentrate, thrive and learn.
“It’s promising to see the number of pupils benefiting from a free school meal increase for the second year in a row, though it perhaps also reflects the pressures that families are experiencing, particularly in relation to food costs.
“That is why providing and expanding free school meals remains a crucial element of the Scottish Government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty and I would encourage all families who are eligible for free school meals to take up the offer available to them.”
In Scotland, universal free school meals are available during school term-time for over 230,000 children in primaries 1 to 5 and special schools, as well as eligible pupils in primary 6 to secondary 6.
New payment for people caring for more than one person
Proposals to further expand and improve the benefits available to unpaid carers in Scotland have been laid before the Scottish Parliament.
Among the changes are plans to introduce a new payment worth up to £520 annually for people who care for more than one person – benefiting an estimated 18,000 carers – and to extend eligibility for the Young Carer Grant to 19-year-olds.
This builds on previous changes following the transfer of responsibility for carer benefits from the UK Government to the Scottish Government, including the introduction of new benefits such as Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
Around 130,000 people are entitled to Scottish Government carer benefits in Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government recognises the immense contribution carers make to our society through caring for family, friends and neighbours.
“That is why we have made it a priority to deliver a series of improvements to better support them following the transfer of carer benefit awards from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland.
“We have a very different approach to social security in Scotland, with dignity, fairness and respect at its heart, and these changes build on previous work to help improve the lives of carers. We have already introduced Carer’s Allowance Supplement and the Young Carer Grant – which are only available in Scotland – and widened eligibility for Carer Support Payment to enable more carers in education to access it.
“This is another major milestone in the process of delivering devolved social security and in building a system that better meets the needs of carers and disabled people in Scotland.”
‘IS OUR SAFETY REALLY A PRICE WORTH PAYING FOR THIS KIND OF GESTURE POLITICS?‘
Scotland Against Antisemitismhas delivered an open letter to First Minister John Swinney, warning that the Scottish Government’s recent announcement on Israel risks inflaming antisemitism and further endangering Scotland’s Jewish community.
The letter has already gathered almost 3000 signatures, including lawyers, politicians, educators, clergy, students, and concerned citizens across Scotland and beyond, with numbers continuing to rise.
Scotland’s Jewish community numbers around just 5,000 people — 0.093% of the population — yet were victims of 17% of all religiously motivated hate crimes last year. The letter warns that language from government risks legitimising this hostility, emboldening extremists, and deepening the isolation of Jewish Scots.
Leah Benoz, Founder and Director of Scotland Against Antisemitism, said: “The Scottish Governmenthas no power over foreign policy, and the proposed funding cuts are tiny and will have no effect on events in the Middle East.
“Not one Palestinian life will be saved by these measures, but Jewish life in Scotland will be put further at risk. Our question to Mr Swinney is simple; is our safety really a price worth paying for this kind of gesture politics?”
The letter calls on the government to:
• Retract inflammatory language, particularly around “genocide”
• Engage with the Jewish community in Scotland
• Commit to concrete measures to protect Jewish safety
THE LETTER READS:
Dear First Minister Swinney,
We at Scotland Against Antisemitism write with grave concern following yesterday’s announcement from the Scottish Government regarding Israel.
As you are no doubt aware, our small and increasingly vulnerable community is living in an extraordinarily hostile environment, one that has only worsened since October 7th. We number around 5,000 people, just 0.093% of Scotland’s population, yet we were the victims of approximately 17% of all religiously motivated hate crimes last year. That figure alone should be a matter of national shame.
The human suffering in Gaza is real and cannot be understated, nor is it our intention to do so. But we must be absolutely clear with you about the real-world impact of the measures your government has announced.
The accusation of genocide is one of the gravest under international law. It requires an exceptional standard of proof that can only be met in a court of law by producing irrefutable evidence of intent. Neither viral propaganda nor the claims of discredited UN figures such as Francesca Albanese, who denies proven sexual atrocities and is accused of misrepresenting her legal credentials, or Tom Fletcher, author of the immediately debunked “14,000 dead babies” allegation, are sufficient. For the Scottish Government to endorse this modern-day blood libel will not save a single innocent life in Gaza, but it will embolden those who now use the language of genocide to justify the harassment and intimidation of Jews here in Scotland.
The Scottish Government holds no power over foreign policy and no meaningful influence over the State of Israel. The decision to pull a tiny amount of funding from a handful of commercial projects will not impact the Israeli government or change the course of the war. In short, the only people this announcement will materially affect are Scottish Jews who are already under siege.
We believe, with sorrow and outrage, that this decision was made to appease a small, extremist, and increasingly aggressive fringe of the activist class,a group whose support is being courted for political reasons. It appears the government has calculated that the cost of alienating Scotland’s Jews will be outweighed by electoral rewards.
But in the very week that yet more members of our community are leaving Scotland for Israel out of fear, we ask you plainly:
Is our safety really a price worth paying?
We call on the Scottish Government to retract its inflammatory language and meet with the Jewish community to discuss how the government plans to protect us — not just in words, but in action.
Funding allocated to early intervention and women’s support services
Services helping women affected by drugs and preventing substance use by young people are to benefit from more than £2 million funding.
Minister for Drugs Policy Maree Todd announced the support during a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the National Records of Scotland latest statistics on drug misuse deaths. These showed a decrease of 13% to 1,017 compared to the previous year.
Recognising additional challenges faced by women who use drugs, £1.1 million has been awarded to Aberlour Children’s Charity for its perinatal support and recovery services. In Glasgow, £750,000 will be delivered through the Corra Foundation to make it easier for women affected by substance use to access services.
The ‘Winning Scotland’s Planet Youth’ initiative, which aims to create an environment that consistently supports young people to make healthy choices, has been allocated £750,000 to continue its work. NRS statistics for last year noted a drop in the number of deaths among young people from drugs, with 34 under-25s compared with 58 in 2023.
Ms Todd said: “I want to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the 1,017 people who lost their lives to drugs in 2024.
“Our National Mission on Drugs has delivered a number of positive developments, including widening access to life-saving naloxone kits to reverse overdoses and creating more residential rehabilitation beds. It is welcome that we have seen progress with the number of deaths at the lowest level since 2017, but these tragic drug deaths figures remind us, however, that there is much more to do.
“To that end, we are providing record funding of more than £160 million for alcohol and drugs in 2025-26. We will also accelerate the delivery of new initiatives, such as the drug checking pilot project. And subject to the Scottish Parliament’s agreement, we will be maintaining funding beyond next year to address harm caused by drugs and intensively support recovery.
“While there is nothing we can do to bring back those whose lives have been so tragically cut short, nor to ease the unimaginable grief that their loved-ones must feel, we will continue to do all we can to end the devastating impacts of drugs in Scotland.”
New report highlights the impacts of Scottish policies
Scottish benefits are easing the cost-of-living burden for families according to a new evaluation.
The Scottish Centre for Social Research surveyed people in receipt of any of the Five Family Payments, a group of benefits designed to tackle poverty and to improve household finances.
Findings show the payments have a positive impact on recipients’ overall finances and have helped to reduce material deprivation and food insecurity for low-income families. The majority of Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Foods recipients agreed the payments meant they did not need foodbanks.
Feedback also shows the majority of Best Start Foods recipients, who receive a pre-paid card to purchase healthy food, reported that the card enabled their families to have healthy meals more frequently.
Other impacts include a reduction to household debt and borrowing and more children being able to undertake extra-curricular activities, like sport, music or drama.
Recipients also commented that the automatic payment system reduces worry and stress.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville met some impacted families at Brunstane Primary School in Edinburgh.
Ms Somerville said: “We want every child to have the best start in life, but we recognise that the cost of living continues to have a negative impact on families across the country.
“It is a moral imperative to offer the best support we can, and I’m pleased that this work found an array of positive, meaningful impacts.
“But we are not letting up. We know there is more to do, which is why, as an example, we are launching the new Two Child Limit Payment in March, which will benefit the families of 43,000 children next year.
“And in the face of challenging economic headwinds and cuts to the UK welfare system, I want to reassure families that our support will continue. No child, nor family, will be left behind by the Scottish Government.”
One parent, Emma Hunter from Magdalene, said: “We are so grateful for the support we received with the healthy start vouchers, school uniforms and child payment.
“It has been such a huge help in easing the financial burden of starting a family and it has made a real difference to our lives.”
New paper sets out proposals for constitutional change
A paper setting out how the people of Scotland have the right to decide their constitutional future has been published by the Scottish Government.
‘Your Right to Decide’ sets out how, following a clear decision being made by the people of Scotland to hold a referendum, it is for both the Scottish Government and the UK Government to acknowledge and respect that decision.
The paper calls on the UK Government to make a clear commitment to respect the people’s right to choose their future.
Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Figures and institutions with very different political outlooks have long supported the idea that it is for people who live in Scotland to decide our country’s future.
“The United Kingdom is a democracy, so there must be a way by which the people of Scotland can exercise their right to decide if there should be a change to its constitutional status.
“Scotland is a proud nation and a lively democracy. As such, there is always healthy debate about the best way forward for our country.
“But we can only have that debate – we can only make a decision about our future – if we get a choice. I urge everyone, whatever their views, to ensure that the people of Scotland’s right to decide is respected.”
UK GOVERNMENT MUST END ARMS SALES & RECOGNISE PALESTINE
Gordon Macdonald MSP has echoed First Minister John Swinney’s powerful statement on Palestine, urging the UK Government to take immediate action and outlining the action that the SNP will take with the powers Scotland has.
The genocide in Palestine has already claimed more than 63,000 lives. Famine is spreading throughout a ruined Gaza. While the Palestinian flag was raised at St Andrew’s House the First Minister set out Scotland’s humanitarian response and demanded action from Starmer’s government.
First Minister @JohnSwinney reiterated his horror at genocide unfolding in Gaza.
He set out new economic, diplomatic and humanitarian measures in response to the Israeli government's actions, and called for the urgent recognition of Palestine.
The SNP is demanding that the Labour UK government:
Immediately recognise the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders.
End all arms sales to Israel and withdraw from the UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement
Impose sanctions on members of the Israeli government complicit in war crimes and illegal settlements
Ban imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, following Ireland’s lead
Support international justice, including backing South Africa’s case at the ICJ and implementing ICC arrest warrants.
The actions that will be taken by the SNP Scottish Government include:
Trade and arms restrictions: New public funding will be paused for arms companies whose products are linked to states accused of genocide, including Israel. Any defence companies seeking support from the Scottish Government must prove that they are not supplying the Israeli military.
Medical support for children: Scotland will provide treatment for up to 20 injured children from Gaza, who will arrive with their families to Scotland from mid-September.
Support for students: working with universities to ensure Gazan students can attend Scottish universities if offered a place.
Justice and accountability: exploring how Scotland’s legal community, universities, and civil society can contribute to preserving evidence for international criminal cases.
Commenting, Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “Scotland will not stand by while genocide unfolds before our eyes. The SNP is ensuring that Scotland stands with Palestine by delivering real action.
“We’re sending humanitarian aid, treating injured children, supporting students, and halting public funding for companies linked to Israel’s war machine.”
“The Labour UK government must recognise the State of Palestine, end arms sales to Israel, and impose sanctions on Israeli war criminals. Anything less is a betrayal of international law and of basic human decency.
“The people of Scotland expect their leaders to speak out for justice and humanity. The SNP will always stand for peace, for dignity, and for a future where every life is valued equally.”
Support for defence companies involved in Israel halted
“In the face of genocide, there can be no ‘business as usual’” – First Minister
New awards of public money to defence companies involved with Israel will be halted, First Minister John Swinney announced yesterday as he set out a package of new economic, humanitarian and diplomatic measures in response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
As the death toll in Gaza passes 63,000, the First Minister reiterated his concern at genocide unfolding in Gaza. He set out a package of measures including:
New awards of public money will be paused to defence companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that country, including Israel.
Instructing relevant delivery bodies such as Scottish Enterprise where possible to not provide support for trade between Scotland and Israel.
£400,000 to Kids Operating Room to establish the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub – a rapidly deployable hospital in Gaza to provide essential surgical, maternity and paediatric services.
£600,000 to the UNOCHA led Humanitarian Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories to provide life-saving health services, food and nutrition assistance, emergency shelter, water and sanitation, protection services, education support and cash for families.
Calling for the UK Government to recognise the State of Palestine, withdraw from the existing Free Trade Agreement with Israel, end all military cooperation with Israel while the war continues, and prohibit the import of goods produced in illegal settlements.
In light of Russia’s invasion of and continued war against Ukraine the Scottish Government will lift the restriction previously applied to the use of public support for the production of munitions.
This will not be available to companies which fail to demonstrate that their products are not involved militarily with Israel or other countries implicated in genocide.
The First Minister said: “The situation in Gaza is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe. We must confront this crisis with urgency, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to accountability.
“This Government has consistently and unequivocally condemned the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. We have joined the international community in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
“But I share the concerns of other countries and international leaders that a genocide appears to be unfolding in Gaza. The legal determination of genocide is the responsibility of international courts. But, governments must act now.
“Defending our country – defending our continent – is a duty of government.
“Anyone watching the ongoing war in Ukraine would, I hope, recognise the reality of the importance of defence. Indeed, the invasion shows we live in a world in which our national security faces much greater and more immediate threats.
“In recognition of that changed international landscape, the Scottish Government will lift the restriction we have applied on the use of support for the production of munitions.
“But, in the face of genocide, there can be no ‘business as usual’.
“We are instructing relevant delivery bodies where possible not to provide support facilitating trade between Scotland and Israel.
“We will pause new awards of public money to defence companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that country. That will include Israel.
“Any defence company seeking support from the Scottish Government will have to demonstrate that its products are not involved militarily with Israel.
“And Scotland will directly address humanitarian need. We have a long history of helping those in desperate need and we will not be found wanting now. I can announce today that we will provide £400,000 to establish the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub in Scotland.
“We will also donate £600,000 to the UNOCHA led Humanitarian Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories which will provide life-saving health services, food and nutrition assistance, emergency shelter, water and sanitation, protection services, education support and cash for families, ensuring aid reaches those most at risk.
“We have also committed to providing medical support for up to 20 injured children from Gaza and expect the first arrivals along with their families in mid-September.
“We are witnessing a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions. And yet, the bombs continue to fall.
“The world cannot wait for a final court ruling before acting. The signs are clear. The alarm has been raised.
“The bombs and rockets must stop. Humanitarian aid must flow.
“The international community, including the UK Government, must recognise a Palestinian state as the first step towards peace and a two-state solution. A solution where the peoples of both Israel and Palestine can live side-by-side in peace and security.
“Acknowledging that we are witnessing the signs of genocide brings with it a responsibility to act. The people of Scotland expect no less of us.
“Scotland will always raise her voice in favour of peace and humanity.”
Response to the Scottish First Minister John Swinney’s Parliamentary Statement on the Situation in Gaza of 3rd September 2025 from Timothy Lovat, Chair, Jewish Council of Scotland
Timothy Lovat, Chair, Jewish Council of Scotland, said: “It is disappointing that despite his warm and reassuring words when we met with him and Angus Roberston on Monday, the First Minister has chosen to express a position that we are concerned will undermine the safety, security and well-being of the Jewish community in Scotland.
“We set out our concerns in writing to the First Minister‘s office yesterday and will continue to engage with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to safeguard our community’s welfare and future in Scotland.”
THE JEWISH COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND’S LETTER READS:
Letter from Jewish Council of Scotland to First Minister, in Response to Yesterday’sStatement
2nd September 2025
Dear First Minister,
Thank you for meeting representatives of the Jewish community in Scotland yesterday.
We welcome your stated commitment to the safety and well-being of our community.
You also indicated at our meeting that you planned to make an intervention tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd September, relating to your view that Israel is engaged in the commission of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
As recognised during our meeting, the language used in public discourse matters greatly. In consequence, those who lead our country and our community have an especially significant role in setting the tone of public debate, including ensuring that they use language carefully and responsibly.
In light of this shared recognition, it is important to us to bring to your attention our concerns about the implications of such a proposed intervention for us and our community.
It is indisputable that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. It is equally beyond debate that both Israel and Hamas bear responsibility for this tragic situation. For you to assert as First Minister of Scotland that Israel is engaged in a genocidal campaign against Palestinians, however, would, in our view, be irresponsible.
Ultimately, of course, only a competent court may determine whether and if so how the Genocide Convention may have been breached by Israel.
More seriously in local terms, however, while any position you or the Scottish Government might take on the matter is unlikely to have any impact on the situation in Gaza, it is likely to have significant negative implications for our community here in Scotland.
In particular, setting out a stance likely to be publicly perceived simply and without qualification as anti-Israel, without drawing any distinction between the state of Israel and its current leadership, or acknowledging the continuing culpability of Hamas, is likely to have a far greater and more immediate impact locally, fuelling “antizionist” – and antisemitic – hatred and discrimination against Scotland’s Jews and our institutions and symbols, than it is on the situation in the Middle East, let alone in Westminster.
Indeed, it would be a tragic irony were our communal institutions, including Scotland’s only Jewish primary school, required to upgrade security provision in consequence of interventions by the Scottish Government and its leadership.
Like you, the vast majority of Jews around the world are Zionists – supporters of the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in our ancestral homeland. Moreover, and again like you, our community and our institutions are committed to the realisation of a two-state solution, with a secure Israel existing alongside a viable Palestinian state.
Rather than risk increasing fear, anxiety, and trauma in our community, we would respectfully ask you to work with us to promote that vision in a principled, pragmatic, and constructive manner.
We thank you again for your engagement and for your continued commitment to the dignity and safety of all communities in Scotland.
Scottish Government and local partners must act now to protect vital palliative care services
St Columba’s Hospice Care and Marie Curie Edinburgh are warning that essential palliative and end-of-life care services are now at serious risk due to funding decisions made by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and inaction by the Scottish Government.
The HSCP has chosen to reverse a 3% inflationary uplift in funding to hospices, which they committed to earlier in the year. This decision was taken in reaction to the Scottish Government announcement of an additional £5 million to help hospices address workforce pressures.
That £5 million was solely intended to support hospices with the recruitment and retention of skilled staff during a time of extreme pressure, not to replace existing funding agreements.
This decision from HSCP undermines the purpose of the allocation and places essential palliative and end-of-life services across the Lothians at risk. To date, St Columba’s Hospice Care has not received its share of the £5 million, which is approximately £496,000. The delay is creating further financial uncertainty and threatening frontline services for patients and families.
We call on the Scottish Government and HSCP to:
Reinstate the 3% inflationary uplift immediately.
Release the national pay parity funding without delay.
Commit to a national review of hospice funding to ensure equity and sustainability across Scotland.
Jackie Stone, CEO, St Columba’s Hospice Care, said:“Hospice’s are being pushed to make very difficult decisions that may impact on our patients and families. This reversal sends a devastating message to our staff and to the families we care for that fair pay and essential services are negotiable. They are not.
“The Scottish Government made a public commitment to fair pay and sustainable services, but we are being left with broken promises and growing deficits.
“We urge the Scottish Government and local partnerships to act now before we are forced to withdraw services that thousands of people across Edinburgh and the Lothians rely on every year.”
Hospices are an integral part of Scotland’s healthcare system and must be treated as such. They need sustainable, equitable funding. The government must act now to ensure a consistent national approach to hospice funding.
Hospices deliver vital, high-quality care that the NHS relies on, and they must be supported, not penalised, for working to achieve fair pay for their staff.
Latest figures highlight 146 children waiting more than a year for mental health treatment, says SCSC
For the third consecutive quarter in a row, there has been continued progress on waiting times for children and young people’s mental health care.
From April to June this year, 91.8% of those referred to CAMHS were seen within 18 weeks, according to the latest statistics from Public Health Scotland. This is a slight increase from 91.6% in the previous quarter, and above the national standard of 90%.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said: “I welcome the continued progress in these services – staff across Scotland are working hard to ensure children and young people are getting the support they need when they need it, and I am grateful for their continued dedication.
“We have exceeded our promise to provide funding for 320 additional staff for CAMHS by 2026, and this will have contributed to the improvements we are seeing.
“However, I am aware there is still more to do to ensure standards are consistent across the country and we are supporting all NHS Boards to meet the standard and continue development in the delivery of CAMHS and all mental health services.”
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, is calling for parity of action and parity of spend as new figures highlight 146 children and young people have been waiting more than a year for mental health treatment in Scotland.
These figures were highlighted in the latest waiting time statistics from Public Health Scotland published today (2nd September), indicating that 146 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the quarter ending June 2025.1
Additionally, 271 individuals have been waiting for between nine months and a year for treatment.
The figures come out following a Freedom of Information request to NHS Boards that found that in 2024/25, a patient in NHS Highland waited 1189 days – more than three years – for treatment by CAMHS, and in NHS Tayside, a patient has been waiting 1,137 days to start treatment. 2
The Scottish Government’s target, dating back to December 2014, states that 90 per cent of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS.
This comes against the background of a mental health emergency, with an increasing demand on services, exacerbated by the long shadow of the Covid lockdown and cost-of-living crisis.
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, cases of poor mental health in children and young people were at unprecedented levels, with overstretched and under-resourced services struggling to keep pace with growing demand.
However, it should be noted that despite this greatly increased demand, only 0.82 per cent of the total frontline NHS budget was spent on CAMHS in the 2023/24 financial year, amounting to £134.188 million (real terms). This equates to just 82p in every £100 of the NHS budget. 3
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “The latest figures highlighting that 146 children and young people have been waiting over a year for mental health treatment are extremely alarming.
“While the fact that the Scottish Government is meeting its waiting time target is to be welcomed, many children and young people are still waiting years for help, which worsens their mental health and is a sure-fire way to add to their pain.
“What we need is not just parity of esteem between mental health and physical health, it’s parity of action and parity of spend.
“We are facing a mental health emergency, and many of our children and young people are at breaking point, with stress and anxiety reaching alarming levels as they battle with the long shadow of lockdown and the rising cost of living. This is also having a negative impact on classroom behaviour, affecting the young people concerned, their fellow pupils and staff.
“Each one of these statistics is an individual, and we would urge the Scottish Government to ensure the adequate resourcing of mental health services for our children and young people so that they can get the care and support they need, without lengthy waits.”
In response to today’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services figures, chief executive of Children First Mary Glasgow said: “Today’s figures show the importance of keeping the spotlight on children’s mental health.
“The reduction in waiting times is welcome, but while four months is the target, it is still too long, especially when children are suffering in severe distress.
“By urgently investing in more early help and support the Scottish Government can prevent children reaching a point of emergency.
“Every day our support line and our teams across Scotland hear from children and young people with high levels of worry and anxiety coming to us desperate for help.”
“If you are worried about your child our friendly support line team is here for you on 08000 28 22 33.”
The number of deaths caused by drug misuse fell by 13% to 1,017 last year – the lowest level registered since 2017.
According to statistics published by National Records of Scotland yesterday, there were 155 fewer deaths in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The statistics showed that people in the most deprived areas were 12 times more likely to die from drugs as those in least deprived areas. This is a drop from 15 times more likely in 2023.
There was also a drop in the number of deaths among young people with 34 under-25s compared with 58 in 2023.
However, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said there is still work to be done by the Scottish Government to deal with the harm caused by drugs.
During a visit to The Scheme Livi recovery project, which offers a variety of creative workshops to support people dealing with substance use, Ms Todd said: “My heartfelt condolences go to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through drugs.
“It is welcome that we have seen progress with the number of deaths at the lowest level since 2017, but I know there is still work to be done and we will continue to do everything we can to save and improve lives.
“This is particularly true as we face new threats from highly dangerous synthetic opioids like nitazenes, which further raise the risk of overdose and death.
“That is why we are providing record levels of funding for drugs and alcohol programmes and widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone. We have also supported and funded the opening of the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility and are working at pace to deliver drug-checking facilities.
“The spread of grassroots support, enhanced by our funding of more than 300 organisations and projects, has also made a difference on the ground. However, we will always want to do more and will continue to work hard to adapt to new patterns of consumption and demand to direct support where it is most needed.”
The Scheme Livi co-founder Aidan Martin said: “At The Scheme Livi, we’ve seen first-hand how grassroots projects, supported by Corra, can transform lives. Since launching full-time in March 2023, we’ve welcomed over 3,100 attendees, with 524 unique footprints, to our free creative workshops, which carry both therapeutic and creative benefits.
“These attendee numbers highlight the real need for safe, supportive spaces for people impacted by addiction, trauma, mental health challenges, social isolation, and social deprivation.”
The annual report for drug related deaths from the National Records of Scotland, published today, shows that there were 1017 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2024; a decrease of 13% (155 deaths) compared to 2023.
The report also highlights the worrying extent of premature mortality, with 46% of deaths (467) occurring in the 35-49 age group, similar to 2023, when this age group accounted for 49% of deaths (583).
Opioids continue to be the most common drug type implicated in drug-related deaths (80%), which reflects a similar picture to 2023.
Reflecting on the publication of the figures, Dr Tara Shivaji, Consultant at Public Health Scotland (PHS), said:“We must all take a moment to pause and reflect on the stark reality of this report.
“These deaths are not just numbers; they reflect real people in our communities and families. Those who are working tirelessly within the system will feel the weight today as drug related deaths, and harm, continues to be one of the most significant public health challenges in Scotland.
“Whilst there was a slight decrease in deaths from 2023, Scotland continues to have one of the highest drug death rates in the developed world. Our most recent RADAR quarterly report showed an increase in drug harms during 2025.
“In order to tackle this, we must also address the underlying social determinants of health. Poverty, homelessness, trauma, and stigma play a key role in further entrenching the problematic drug use. We are working with health boards, local authorities and third sector organisations right across the country to reduce these inequalities.
“Scotland’s Population Health Framework 2025-2035 sets out a vision that we, collectively, need to focus on prevention and create supportive environments that promote health and wellbeing and reduce health harming activities.
“Through research and consultation, PHS is working across the system to actively engage with partners, stakeholders and people with lived and living experience.
“Our aim is to prevent substance use harm – making sure our schools, families and communities can reduce early risks and support healthier futures.”
COSLA has issued a short statement following statistics published today (2nd September 2025) on drug-related deaths in Scotland.
A COSLA Spokesperson said: “Every death from drug misuse is a tragedy. These numbers represent loved ones: parents, sons, daughters and siblings. It is a stark reminder of the challenges we still need to overcome across the public and third sectors to end deaths of this nature.
“Local Authorities continue to work in partnership with a wide range of agencies to support to people affected by addiction and drug misuse, and reduce the devastating impacts on our communities.”
