SAS Chapter 2 : page :26

The Scottish Abstract of Statistics No 26,1998

Table 2D5 Reported drugs of misuse among new patients/clients ¹ attending drug services or general practice : 1996/97

	% individuals using drug
	All uses ²	Main drug ³
Heroin ⁴	57	49
Morphine	1	-
Methadone - prescribed only	17	13
Methadone - other ⁵	11	5
Dihydrocodeine - prescribed only	6	4
Dihydrocodeine - other ⁵	13	5
Dipipanone	1	-
Buprenorphine	3	1
Other Opiates	1	-

Diazepam - prescribed only	13	3
Diazepam - other ⁵	21	4
Temazepam - prescribed only	3	-
Temazepam - other ⁵	22	2
Other Benzodiazepines	4	-
Other sedatives	2	-

Amphetamines	12	4
Cocaine	2	-
Ecstasy	7	1
Hallucinogens	2	-
Cannabis	28	4
Solvents	1	1
Alcohol ⁶	10	*

Other drugs	3	1

Source: ISD Scotland, Common Services Agency

¹ The table presents information reported to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD). The SDMD collects anonymous data on new problem drug users seen at a wide range of services, including general practice and specialist drug services. A drug user is defined as ‘new’ if he/she is attending a particular agency for the first time ever, or has had a gap of over six months since their last attendance. The table is based on a total of 8,470 drug users.

² This column shows the percentage of individuals reporting use of drugs in the month preceding their attendance. Where there is more than one drug of misuse, as is often the case, agencies are asked to indicate the main drug of misuse.

³ This column shows the percentage of individuals using the drug specified as their main drug.

⁴ Heroin predominates as the drug most frequently reported, 57 per cent of the 8,470 individuals reported Heroin use and 49 per cent reported Heroin as their main drug.

⁵ Includes cases where some or all of the drug mentioned was obtained illicitly or where the source is unknown.

⁶ Alcohol is reported only if it is used as a secondary drug.