THE number of people who lost their lives due to drug misuse in Inverclyde has dropped slightly despite a national spike.

New statistics from National Records of Scotland show that there were 26 drug-related deaths in the local area in 2023, three fewer than the previous year’s total.

Despite the drop, Inverclyde’s rate of drug misuse death was above the Scottish average for the period 2019-2023 and at 37.6 per 100,000 was the third highest in Scotland, behind only Glasgow City and Dundee City.

OTHER NEWS: Greenock boy viciously attacked by 'XL Bully-type' dog

In almost all of the deaths recorded locally, some form of opiate or opioid was implicated.

Benzodiazepines were involved in 17 of the deaths, while bromazolam was identified in 15 cases.

Scotland-wide figures showed that 1,172 people died due to drug misuse in 2023 (Image: PA/Newsquest)

The national data revealed that people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland were more than 15 times as likely to die from drug misuse than in the least deprived areas.

Figures for the whole of Scotland showed that 1,172 people died due to drug misuse in 2023, an increase of 121 on the previous 12 months.

Inverclyde recorded the third highest rate per 100,000 of drug misuse deaths for the 15-24, 35-44, 45–54 and 55-64 age brackets, and the twelfth highest for the 25-34 age group.

The area’s drug death rate had risen sharply in 2022, up to 29 from 16 the year before.