DRUG-related deaths in North Ayrshire have increased by a third over the last 10 years, it emerged this week.

According to figures released by National Records Scotland, the annual average number of fatalities caused by drug use in North Ayrshire was 11 for the period between 2001-2005, increasing to an annual average of 15 deaths during 2011-2010.

The figures were met by concern within the community.

Tim Ross, Chairman of North Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), told the Times: “A number of services in North Ayrshire work together through the Alcohol and Drug Partnership to try and reduce the harm caused by drug misuse.

“The increase in the number of drugs deaths is a real concern and the ADP reviews the circumstances of each death to try and improve understanding of this complex issue and enhance efforts to prevent further drugs deaths.”

Methadone and benzodiazepines contributed to the most deaths in North Ayrshire, each having been a factor in 12 fatalities.

Across Scotland, the over-35 age group accounted for 73 per cent of drug deaths in 2015, up from 67 per cent in 2014. The median age at time of death has also risen from 40 to 41.

Thelma Bowers, Head of Mental Health Services at North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said the local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships across Ayrshire and Arran are working hard to reduce the number of drug-related deaths and this was a ‘key priority’ in new alcohol and drug strategies.

She said: “Taking drugs and medicines which are not prescribed by a clinician can have a devastating impact on a person’s health.

“We would always advise people to refrain from taking any drug or medicine not specifically prescribed to them by a clinician. People can get help and advice from their family doctor (GP) or their local Addiction Service if they are concerned about drugs misuse.

“We are fully committed to working with all our partners to ensure that Ayrshire continues to be a safe place to live and work.”

Local MSP Kenneth Gibson said investment in substance misuse education had helped produce a drop in the number of young people taking drugs to the lowest in a decade.

He added: “Communities also have a role to play in supporting victims and families affected by the harm caused by drugs. Someone knows the ‘dealer’ who is selling drugs and bringing death to our communities. I ask anyone who knows to tell a police officer or call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Chief Superintendent Barry McEwan, Safer Communities, added: “Police Scotland is committed to targeting individuals and organised crime groups responsible for the supply of drugs to our communities. The key to reducing harm is prevention.

“We continue to raise awareness about harm caused by drug misuse through projects such as Choices for Life, which we deliver along with Young Scot and the SNP Government to educate young people to provide vital information that allows them to make positive lifestyle choices.”

Ruth Maguire, MSP for Cunninghame South, said that the recent statistics showed an ageing group of drug users who are experiencing increasingly poor health and that this was a legacy of Scotland’s drug misuse which stretches back decades.

She said: “Locally and nationally there is excellent work ongoing and good progress has been made.

“However, the increase in fatal drug overdoses should galvanise us all to redouble efforts and do all we can to reduce this tragic and largely preventable loss of life.

“Each and everyone one of these deaths is a tragedy for the family, friends and community involved and I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences to anyone affected by the loss of someone who has died as a result of drug use.”

West regional MSP Jamie Greene, meanwhile, blasted the Scottish Government for slashing funding for drugs recovery by 11.3 per cent and said the “damning statistics should be a very stark wake-up call to the SNP”.

He added: “It’s incredible that this kind of funding is being reduced at a time when record numbers are losing their lives to drugs. If anything, the Scottish Government should be putting more resource into this, not slashing it.

“As the budget document itself states, this is money which makes communities safer and helps charities which get people off drugs.”

In response to Mr Greene’s comments, Kenneth Gibson said: “Mr Greene is in no position to criticise the SNP Government for its spending on drugs recovery programmes. The UK Tory Government has cut Scotland’s budget year on year such that it is now 12.5% lower than when the SNP came into office in 2007. Despite this, we have increased the drugs recovery budget by almost a third over that same period”.

“We now have an ageing group of drug users who are experiencing increasingly poor health. This is a legacy of Scotland’s drug misuse which stretches back decades. To address this we have funded research to investigate the issues associated with older drug users through the Scottish Drugs Forum.”