Provisional figures released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have revealed a staggering rise in drug related deaths for 2020. During the recorded period, over 100,000 Americans died of a drug overdose, an increase of 28.5 per cent on the previous year and an all-time high. According to the campaign organisation Penington Institute, North America currently has the highest mortality rate in the world for drug abuse. Drug deaths now exceed those caused by diabetes, car accidents or flu, and have almost doubled since 2016. ScotlandOver 1,300 people died of drug misuse in Scotland in 2020, setting a new record high for the seventh year in a row.

Source: The Times December 09, 2021 18:01 UTC