Health / ‘One death is one too many’ – NHS official reflects on annual drug-related death figures
AN NHS Shetland official has highlighted that each person behind the annual drug-related death figures is “someone’s mum, dad, sister, brother, daughter or son”.
Alcohol and drug development officer Wendy Henderson said although Shetland’s figure had reduced by one to four in 2024, “one death is one too many”.
Nationally drug-related deaths were down in Scotland in 2024 by 13 per cent, and they were at their lowest level since 2017, but longer term they remain high.
Henderson told Shetland News that “people who die as a result of overdose are not ‘other people’, they are us”.
“They are someone’s mum, dad, sister, brother, daughter or son – they are loved,” she said.
“Substance use remains highly stigmatised and therefore so does drug related death. Bereaved families have told us how incredibly difficult it is to grieve in these circumstances.”
Henderson also highlighted that drug trends are “changing fairly rapidly”.
She said illegal drugs are becoming more potent and carry a higher risk of overdose.
Synthetic opioids – fentanyl, nitazenes and xylazines, for example – can be hundreds of times stronger than heroin and can be found in drugs other than heroin.
“Benzodiazepines are also continually changing and becoming stronger, in order to evade detection,” Henderson said.
“The majority of drug related deaths in Scotland involve more than one substance – polydrug use – so a key piece of harm reduction information, is not to take more than one substance at a time, including alcohol.
“However people can inadvertently take more than one substance if what they are taking has been contaminated with another substance.”
The Scottish Government said the latest statistics show that people in the most deprived areas were 12 times more likely to die from drugs as those in least deprived areas.
In contrast, for all causes of death, people in the most deprived areas are around twice as likely to die as those in the least.
Meanwhile there are a number of events planned in Shetland in September to mark recovery month.
The month is a chance to celebrate and support recovery in all its forms.
On Sunday a candle memorial event was held to mark international overdose awareness day, while Lerwick Town Hall was lit purple.
Over the course of September the Shetland Recovery Hub will be hosting a number of events.
This includes a recovery walk on Saturday 27 September, from 2pm to 4pm, and a recovery barbecue the Saturday prior.
Other events planned included a conversation cafe, recovery cafes, a Gaada workshop and a sports day.
More information on the schedule of events can be found here.
The Recovery Hub said on Facebook that its “mission is to shine a light on the reality of recovery and break down the stigma surrounding substance dependency—whether it’s drugs or alcohol”.
“By sharing real stories and showing up in our communities, we’re helping to normalise recovery and challenge the shame and guilt that too often come with it,” it added.
More information on the Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network, which offers support for people who are affected by substance use and is located on Lerwick’s Pitt Lane, can be found here.
Meanwhile anyone looking for support locally is also encouraged to visit the Shetland Alcohol and Drug Partnership website.
Fentanyl, nitazene and xylazine testing strips are available from the NHS substance use service (SMRS), which can be contacted on 01595 743006, and the Recovery Hub.
Naloxone, a medication that temporarily reverses an opioid overdose, is also available from the Recovery Hub and the SMRS at the Lerwick Health Centre for anyone who is likely to experience or witness an overdose.
It is also available for home delivery from Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs.
Henderson said overdose of synthetic opioids can require several doses of naloxone, so people should ensure that they have more than one kit if they, or someone they know, is at risk of overdose.
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