NEARLY a dozen people have lost their lives to drug misuse in the Wee County last year, statistics released in August showed.

According to the National Records of Scotland (NRS), there were 11 drug misuse deaths in Clackmannanshire in 2023, an increase of one compared to the year before.

The figure has been fluctuating in the Wee County over the years, with 2021 seeing one of the highest rates when 15 people lost their lives to substance use.

On average, since 2010, nearly nine drug misuse deaths have been recorded in the area each year.

The 11 deaths in 2023 – seven men and four females – were all accidental poisonings according to the statistics.

There were no deaths due to intentional self-poisoning or due to assault by drugs.

And the NRS figures also revealed that seven of the 11 cases involved an opiate or opioid.  Five were related to heroin or morphine, four to methadone and two to buprenorphine.

Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or gabapentin and others – including “street” versions, were a factor in eight of the 11 deaths; cocaine played a part in five.

Ecstasy and amphetamines were not a factor in any of the deaths and alcohol only played a part in two cases, according to the figures.

Across the country, 1,172 people died due to drug misuse, an increase of 121 compared to 2022.

However, this was the second lowest number of drug misuse deaths since 2017, last year being the lowest.

Nationally, opiates and opioids were implicated in 80 per cent of the deaths and almost nine out of 10 were classified as accidental poisonings.

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Scottish Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart branded the figures “shocking and shameful”.

He said: “Drug deaths continue to be our national shame on the SNP’s watch and far too many individuals in Clackmannanshire are dying in this way.

“Behind these awful figures are families in Clackmannanshire grieving the loss of loved ones and my thoughts are with those who are experiencing this tragedy.”

The Mid Scotland and Fife representative called on incumbents to back his party’s Right to Recovery Bill, adding that “there is no time for the SNP government to waste”.

Clacks and Dunblane SNP MSP Keith Brown highlighted ongoing efforts on safer consumption rooms.

He said: “The level of drug-related deaths in Scotland is, of course, a matter of deep concern and the Scottish Government takes the situation very seriously indeed.

"With heroin and other opioid abuse accounting for over 80 per cent of the total number of deaths, the work that the Scottish Government is doing on safer consumption rooms is a very important part of an approach that will hopefully see these figures put into reverse."

The Advertiser previously interviewed the Forth Valley Recovery Community, which has been delivering substance-free events since 2016, on the issue.

Recovery is always possible and for those on that journey, building a sense of self-worth and love, while surrounding one’s self with the right people, is often key.

Find Forth Valley Recovery Community on Facebook to see details about recovery cafés and walks in the area.