Drug-related homeless deaths increase in Scotland

New figures suggest 242 people died while experiencing homelessness in Scotland last year.

A report from National Records of Scotland (NRS) said the number of homeless deaths in 2023 was slightly down on the previous year but remained higher than pre-pandemic levels.

However, drug-misuse deaths increased from 89 to 100 and now account for two-fifths of all estimated homeless fatalities in Scotland.

The figures include people in temporary accommodation such as flats, hotels and B&Bs at the time of their death as well as those sleeping rough on the street.

They showed that almost four-fifths (79%) of homeless deaths were males, while half of those who lost their lives were aged under 45.

Glasgow City Council and City of Edinburgh Council had the highest rates of homeless deaths per million people.

There were an estimated 56 homeless deaths in Glasgow and 49 in Edinburgh.

Perth and Kinross and the Orkney Islands were estimated to have not had any homeless deaths last year.

The NRS statisticians said the homeless death figures are an estimate based on the same methodology used every year.

They said "identifying whether a person was homeless when they died is not straightforward using the information recorded at death registration".

There is no specific question on the death certificate asking if a person was homeless at the time of death.

Consequently, the data considers place of residence, place of death, hospital deaths, registrar notes and institution codes to determine whether a person died while homeless.

The NRS said only 210 people experiencing homelessness were identified to have died in 2023.

However, it is estimated that as many as 259 homeless people could have died in Scotland after taking into consideration unregistered deaths that may have been missed during the compilation of data.

The report stated estimated homeless deaths in other parts of the UK were not comparable with those in Scotland.

Beth Watson, NRS senior assistant statistician, said: “Our estimate shows the number of deaths among people experiencing homelessness in 2023 is similar to the level in 2022.

"Homeless deaths are at a higher level now compared to the 164 deaths in 2017, when these statistics were first collected."

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, a charity dedicated to ending homelessness, said the figures should act as a "wake-up call".

"The sad truth is that in many cases, these deaths will have been avoidable," he said.

"Each year, more people are forced into homelessness, often trapped for long periods in emergency accommodation. We know how much damage that can do to your health.

“We urgently need the Scottish government and opposition to press on with plans to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place."

Scottish government housing minister Paul McLennan said: "Every premature and preventable death is a tragedy and I send my deepest condolences to those affected by the loss of friends or family who were homeless.

"Scotland already has the strongest rights in the UK for people experiencing homelessness, but we are committed to ensuring that no-one need become homeless in the first place."