This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) reports on people presenting initial assessment for specialist drug and alcohol treatment services in Scotland during 2021/22 and 2022/23. These data were extracted from the Drug and Alcohol Information System (DAISy). 

Main points

Initial assessments for specialist alcohol and drug treatment relating to 18,294 people resident in Scotland were recorded on DAISy in 2021/22 and 16,936 people in 2022/23. 

Alcohol:

• In 2021/22, a total of 10,204 initial assessments recorded on DAISy were for people starting specialist alcohol treatment in Scotland. In 2022/23 a total of 9,803 assessments were recorded.
• The median age at initial assessment was 46 years in 2021/22 and 47 years in 2022/23. Among people starting specialist alcohol treatment in Scotland, the percentage of women was 37% in 2021/22 and 36% in 2022/23.
• The most common alcohol type for which people reported needing treatment for was spirits in both years (36% in 2021/22 and 35% 2022/23) 

Drugs:

• In 2021/22, a total of 7,288 initial assessments recorded on DAISy were for people starting specialist drug treatment in Scotland. In 2022/23 a total of 6,275 assessments were recorded.
• The median age at initial assessment was 36 years in 2021/22 and 2022/23. Among people starting specialist drug treatment in Scotland, the percentage of women was 29% in 2021/22 and 28% in 2022/23.
• Heroin was the most common drug for which people reported needing help in both years (32% in 2021/22 and 2022/23) 

Co-dependency:

• In 2021/22, a total of 2,153 initial assessments recorded on DAISy were for people starting specialist co-dependency (alcohol and drug) treatment in Scotland. In 2022/23 a total of 2,017 assessments were recorded.
• The median age at initial assessment was 33 years in 2021/22 and 2022/23. Among people starting specialist alcohol and/or drug treatment in Scotland, the percentage of women was 22% in 2021/22 and 21% in 2022/23.
• Beer was the most commonly reported main alcohol type (2021/22: 33%; 2022/23: 31%) reported by people starting treatment for co-dependency.
• Cocaine was the most commonly reported main drug (2021/22 38%; 2022/23: 46%) reported by people starting treatment for co-dependency. 

Background

DAISy is a unique source of data and provides insights into drug and alcohol treatment needs and the social circumstances and behaviours of people at the point when they contact services for treatment. Recording of data on DAISy at the national level began on 1 April 2021. This release should be viewed in conjunction with the associated Excel workbook (see website) which provides users with accessible interactive content based on data from 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Click this link to the DAISy website for treatment waiting times.