Alcohol-related deaths across NHS Highland appear to be declining, while the national figure remains high

Alcohol-related deaths remain high across Scotland, but the Highlands appear to be in a healthier position compared to other regions.

According to figures released yesterday by the National Records of Scotland (NRS), the number of alcohol-related deaths across Scotland is at its highest since 2008.

A total of 1,277 deaths were attributed to alcohol-related causes in 2023, an increase of one from 2022.

However, comparing the same two years in the NHS Highland area, there were 75 alcohol-related deaths in the region in 2023, compared to 90 in 2022.

The 2023 figure is the lowest for NHS Highland in the last three years, all of which have shown a downward trend.

The worst year for NHS Highlands was 2006, when the number was 98.

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A spokesman for the Highland Alcohol & Drugs Partnership (HADP) expressed deep sadness at the death toll.

“Our thoughts are with all families and friends affected by alcohol-related deaths,” they added. “It is tragic that people's lives have ended prematurely across Scotland and the Highlands. We recognise that more needs to be done to reduce the number of deaths and support people in their recovery.”

“HADP recommends that anyone who drinks alcohol should be mindful of the number of units they consume. The guidelines for low-risk drinkers advise all adults to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week on a regular basis.

“If you are doing 14 units per week, it is advisable to distribute these evenly over three or more days and to have several alcohol-free days per week.

“It is recommended that you also avoid alcohol if you are pregnant or trying to conceive to avoid the risk of harm. The website Count14.scot is a useful source of information with an alcohol calculator and suggestions for reducing alcohol consumption – any reduction in alcohol consumption reduces the harm.”

Eve MacLeod, HADP coordinator, said: “We can all help reduce the number of alcohol-related deaths.”

“We can all combat the stigma and discrimination that often stand in the way of treatment by using people-first language and showing kindness, compassion and hope to individuals and families affected by alcohol problems.

“September is Recovery Month and a timely reminder that people can and do recover and that support is available to do so.”

If you are concerned about your own or someone else's alcohol consumption, contact: Directory-of-Services-2022.pdf (highland-adp.org.uk)

Carron McDiarmid, Chair of HADP, said: “HADP would like to thank all partners for their joint efforts in tackling alcohol-related harm in Highland.

“We will continue to improve collaboration and bring individuals, families and partner agencies together to achieve even better results next year and beyond.

“One area that everyone can support is our commitment to combating stigmatization and discrimination against people with problematic alcohol consumption.”

Across Scotland, alcohol-related deaths among men continue to account for around two-thirds of all such deaths (an increase of 25%), while deaths among women have fallen by 24.

Phillipa Haxton, head of vital statistics at the NRS, said: “The number of alcohol-related deaths peaked in 2006 and then fell until 2012. Since then it has generally increased.”

“The 45- to 64-year-olds and the 65- to 74-year-olds still have the highest death rates. If we look at the average age of death, this has increased over time.

“Death rates for those aged 65 to 74 and those over 75 were at their highest levels since records began in 1994. At the same time, death rates for those aged 25 to 44 have remained relatively stable over the past decade.”

In 2023, the number of alcohol-related deaths in the poorest areas of Scotland was 4.5 times higher than in the least poor areas.

After adjusting for age, alcohol-related death rates in the administrative areas of Inverclyde, Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire and Dundee City were higher than the Scottish average.

Scotland continued to have the highest alcohol-related death rate of any UK country in 2022, the latest year for which comparable data are available.

Data for the rest of the UK is yet to be published for 2023. The gap between Scotland and the other countries of the UK has narrowed over the past two decades.

In 2001, the alcohol-related death rate in Scotland was 2.1 to 2.9 times higher than in other countries in the UK. In 2022, the rate in Scotland was 1.2 to 1.6 times higher.

The publication “Alcohol-Related Deaths 2023” is available here.

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