Scots accessing drug rehabilitation surges 60% in six years, figures show
Some 1,874 people accessed rehab in 2025-26, including 1,259 that were publicly funded.
The number of Scots in residential rehab has surged by about 60% in the last six years, figures show.
Some 1,441 Scottish residents accessed rehab in 2025-26, up from 903 in 2019-20, according to Public Health Scotland (PHS).
In total, 1,874 people started either privately or publicly funded rehab in Scotland. Of those, 1,259 individuals were publicly funded, including 1,184 Scottish residents.
In its report, PHS said there had been a “clear shift towards fewer individuals accessing privately funded rehab and more individuals accessing publicly funded rehab”.
There has also been a shift towards more Scottish residents and fewer non-Scottish residents accessing rehab in Scotland, it added.
PHS said access to publicly funded residential rehab in Scotland has “substantially improved”.
The figures mean the Scottish Government has met its target of 1,000 people starting a publicly funded residential rehab programme.
However, the report noted concerns among the workers delivering residential rehab.
Among 151 rehab staff surveyed for the report, only 30% said rehab was easily accessible.
Meanwhile, 50% said long waits had become more of a barrier to treatment and 46% said a lack of funding had become more of a barrier.
Alcohol and drugs minister Maree Todd said: “I am pleased to see the impact of our expansion of access across Scotland and that we have exceeded our manifesto commitment of 1,000 people a year being publicly funded to go to residential rehab.
“This reflects increased support in recent years through our national mission and £100 million funding for residential rehabilitation for which the majority of patients are being treated for issues related either solely to alcohol or a combination of alcohol and drugs.
“However we recognise that there is still more to do, which is why we are providing record levels of funding for drugs and alcohol programmes, widening access to treatment and life-saving naloxone and working at pace with local partners to get drug-checking services up and running as soon as possible.
“Recognising that substance use is often just one of several, complex challenges that a person might be facing, our recent Programme for Government commits to expanding recovery-focused support within communities and strengthening connections between treatment, housing, employment, health and justice services, as sustained recovery depends on more than treatment alone.”