Drug Related Deaths in Scotland in 2008

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Note: the population estimates for whichever of the years from 2002 to 2011 (inclusive) appear in this publication are the original mid-year population estimates for those years. They have been superseded by 'rebased' population estimates which take account of the results of the 2011 Census. The 'rebasing' changed each year's estimate of the total population of Scotland by under 1%. Death rates (per 1,000 population) that were calculated using the original mid-year population estimates are therefore subject to small percentage changes. Revised death rates (calculated using the rebased population estimates) will be published in 'Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2013', but are not expected to change significantly any analysis of variation across Scotland or trends over time. More information about the rebasing of the mid-year estimates, and the consequential temporary breaks in series of death rates, is available from the Births and Deaths Rates: breaks in series circa 2011 section of this website.

List of Tables and Figures

Revised versions of Tables HB3 and C3 for 2008: figures for individual drugs on the new standard basis

(first published 17 August 2010)

With effect from the publication of Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2009, the standard basis for the General Register Office for Scotland's figures for individual drugs for 2008 and subsequent years was changed to 'drugs which were implicated in, or which potentially contributed to, the cause of death'. Further information about this change is given in (e.g.,) paragraph 1.3 and Section 2 of Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2009. 

In order that the publication's figures for individual drugs for NHS Boards and councils for 2009 may be compared with figures for 2008 which are on the new standard basis, the spreadsheets which are available via the links below provide revised versions of Tables HB3 and C3 for 2008, giving figures on the new standard basis.

Statistical Service in Scotland

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