Technical Notes 2025, Issue 168 - Premature deaths in East Dunbartonshire 2024
Report by:
Ann Davie, Chief Executive
TN Number:
168-25
Subject:
Premature deaths in East Dunbartonshire 2024
Responsible Officer:
Derrick Pearce, Chief Officer – HSCP
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.
National Records Scotland (NRS) publishes annual reports and associated data for all deaths in Scotland
The publication dates of the reports mentioned above were as follows:
Drug-related deaths report was published on the 2 September 2025
Probable Suicides report was published on the 16 September 2025
Alcohol-specific deaths report was published on the 23 September 2025
Each person concerned represents a tragic and premature loss of life and although reflected in numbers and percentage data within this report it is important to reflect and reiterate that every such loss of life is a personal tragedy and that which deeply affects the families concerned, and the many more who knew and cared for each individual
Drug Related Deaths - In 2024, East Dunbartonshire drug-related deaths increased from 6 people in 2023 to 15 in 2024, which represents a percentage increase of 150% on the previous year. The percentage rise should be caveated against historically low and often fluctuating position for East Dunbartonshire. Over a period of 5-years between 2020-2024 East Dunbartonshire is reported as having the 3rd lowest number of drug related deaths across the 32 local authorities, based on the age standardised mortality rate per 100,000
There was an overall reduction of over 15% from 2023 to 2024 (355 to 299 people) across Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and there were 1,017 drug-related deaths registered across Scotland, a decrease of 13% (155 deaths) compared with 2023. The most common drugs implicated in drug-related deaths in 2024 were opiates/opioids (80% of deaths), benzodiazepines (56%) and cocaine (47%)
Probable Suicides - In 2024, probable suicides in East Dunbartonshire decreased by 33% from 12 people in 2023 to 8 people in 2024. Across Greater Glasgow and Clyde probable suicides increased by less than 1% from 2023 to 2024 (140 to 141)
In 2024, there were 704 probable suicide deaths in Scotland, a decrease of 86 (11%) from 790 in 2023. Male suicides decreased by 12% (590 to 518) in 2023, and female suicides decreased by 7% (202 to 186)
Alcohol Specific Deaths - In East Dunbartonshire in 2024, alcohol-specific deaths decreased by 26.7% from 15 people in 2023 to 11 in 2024. Alcohol-specific deaths are more complex to analyse in terms of longer-term health issues, and other health related contributing factors
Across Greater Glasgow and Clyde alcohol-specific deaths decreased by just under 15% from 2023 to 2024 (323 to 276 people). In 2024, there were 1,185 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Scotland, a decrease of 7% (92 deaths) compared with 2023. The report highlighted that male alcohol-specific deaths continued to account for approximately a third of deaths
The HSCP and Alcohol and Drug Partnership utilise data available regarding these premature deaths to direct service improvement activities in line with local and national priorities including:
An enhanced harm reduction service to provide access to safer injecting equipment, naloxone, advice and information and BBV testing
Augmented training through improved workforce development
Increased access to residential rehabilitation placements
Continued implementation of family inclusive practices
Trauma informed practice for staff, training and environmental changes
Utilising lived and living experience for service improvement
East Dunbartonshire is additionally working with partners in NHS GGC, Public Health Scotland and Police Scotland to further secure and develop access to real-time data to strengthen service improvement activity.
