DRUG deaths in Scotland have risen by 12 per cent, in what Scottish health secretary Neil Gray called “hugely concerning” development today.

New figures showed that drugs claimed the lives of 1,172 Scots in 2023 — up 121 from last year’s total.

Mr Gray said: “We will intensify our efforts and are also working hard to respond to the growing threat from highly dangerous, super-strong synthetic opioids like nitazenes in an increasingly toxic and unpredictable drug supply.”