Drug dying charges in Perth and Kinross have dropped to their lowest ranges since 2017, in line with newly-released figures.
Statistics launched by Nationwide Information of Scotland present 34 folks within the area died in 2020, in comparison with 20 in 2021.
A complete of 19 died in 2017 from drug misuse, whereas the bottom variety of annual deaths highlighted by NRS of their report, relationship again 11 years, is three in 2013 and 2010.
The figures additionally present that drug deaths have fallen by one per cent throughout Scotland prior to now 12 months, ending a seven-year interval of year-on-year will increase.
Dundee Metropolis had the very best age-standardised drug misuse dying fee of all native authority areas (45.2 per 100,000 inhabitants for the 5-year interval 2017-2021), adopted by Glasgow Metropolis (44.4) and Inverclyde (35.7).
Perthshire North MSP and Covid restoration secretary John Swinney and Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Jim Fairlie welcomed the drop however urged in opposition to complacency.
Mr Swinney stated: “While I'm happy that we now have seen a nationwide discount in drug deaths, there isn't any room for complacency.
“I'm significantly happy that there was a major drop within the variety of drug deaths throughout Perth and Kinross, with immediately’s figures exhibiting the bottom variety of deaths since 2017.
“I want to prolong my due to all those that are working tirelessly in the local people to assist these with habit points for his or her big contribution to this enchancment.
“It's important that we construct on these constructive traits each domestically and on a nationwide stage. Each single drug dying is an unacceptable tragedy that we should work to keep away from.
“To that finish, the Scottish Authorities will proceed to do every part in our energy to deal with this massively necessary situation within the years forward.”
Mr Fairlie added: “This can be very clear that a lot work nonetheless must be accomplished as a way to deal with the unacceptably excessive variety of medication deaths in Scotland.
“Nevertheless, I'm happy that progress throughout Perth and Kinross appears to be nicely forward of the nationwide development and I'll proceed to have interaction with native companions to assist construct on this enchancment.
“Over the course of this parliament, the Scottish Authorities is investing an extra £250m to assist deal with the difficulty of extra drug deaths.
“Whereas there's a lot extra work to do, each life saved means one much less household grieving and it is important that we use this halt within the upward development of current years as a platform for actual change.”