Substance Use In Scotland: Renfrew Compared To The Rest of The Country

Scotland has a complex reputation when it comes to substance abuse, and there are many misconceptions and unfair stereotypes that the latest data dispels. However, problems of this kind are constantly evolving, so when one trend tails off, another arises in its place.

Since there’s so much research into habits and social impacts surrounding substance abuse, it’s simple to contrast the state of play in Scotland as a whole with specific places like Renfrew. Here’s how things stand, where there are differences, which trends overlap, and what this means going forward.

Death & Addiction Rates

The National Records of Scotland provides recent data on drug-related deaths, pointing to 1,017 fatalities associated with substance abuse in 2024. That’s actually 13% lower than the previous year, and equates to 19.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

Meanwhile, in Renfrewshire, the Daily Record reports that drug-related deaths actually rose for three years consecutively. This brings the total number of deaths in the county to 246 between 2019 and 2024. 2024 alone saw 44 people pass as a result of substance misuse.

In terms of addiction rates, 1% of respondents to the most recent Scottish Health Survey described their drug use as problematic. Renfrewshire Council has its own data on alcohol and substance abuse, with 773 residents receiving specific treatment annually, and hospital admissions for associated health issues reaching 210 per 100,000 people.

Put simply, Renfrew has proportionally more substance use-related deaths and hospital admissions than other parts of the country, with young people and males making up the majority of these statistics.

New Concerns Emerging

Scotland has fresh substance use challenges to contend with at the moment. Home Office findings on wastewater analysis point to an 85% uptick in ketamine use, singling this drug out as one to watch alongside incumbents like opioids and cocaine.

Part of the problem with ketamine comes down to how it’s classified, as it is less strictly controlled and policed than Class A equivalents due to its Class B ranking. With this rapid rise in use, more people are facing addiction issues and withdrawal symptoms that come with it.

In response, regional facilities have adapted to treat users. For instance, the ketamine detox clinic in Erskine reflects demand for services that assist Renfrewshire residents caught up in this trend-setting substance.

What the Future Might Hold

The news that Renfrewshire sits in a more precarious position from a substance use perspective than other parts of Scotland might sound bleak. However, there are positive things to take from this state of affairs.

The fact that treatment options are available for all people with a desire to confront their drug abuse should be celebrated. Even newer substances like ketamine can be counteracted via detox clinics.

Changing habits in younger generations, with a move away from the established social lubricants of the past, can also be seen as a sign of a brighter future.

Ideally, the addiction and fatality data serve as a wake-up call. Actions taken by local councils and the national government seem necessary to counteract the endemic substance use in Scotland.