BBC: Scotland has highest drug death rate in EU "And the country's drug death rate is now nearly three times that of the UK as a whole, and is higher than that reported for any other EU country." I can think of several reasons why that is. Illegal drug-dealers get away with breaking the law more than any other country in the EU. Junkies and problem alcoholics are allowed to run amok or feral more than any other drug users in the EU. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is a worse head of government than any other in the EU. Those who run the law and the media in Scotland are more censorious of effective political criticism than any other country in the EU. Science and Politics, Aberdeen
Scotland seems to drag the rest of the UK down; highest drug related deaths, fattest people' because of Scotland, UK is the capital of drug deaths and fat people now.
The same thing has been happening in the US. In the more rural areas, with fewer job opportunities, drug issues are becoming a problem. Also, to some extent, more people who used to live in the cities have been displaced outwards by the high costs of housing and overcrowding, so it's putting more pressure on the employment market in lower populated areas.
It probably has to do with the climate, the gloomy skies and long season of colder temperatures for half the year, as well as Scotland traditionally being the poorer North. Then the boredom and lack of things for younger people to do.
I love Scotland, haven't been, yet - but Scottish culture is a strong asset to the UK as is my own native London (London culture being London Fashion, the music industry, the finance industry and everything)... Love the UK, when I said Only matters for statistics, got a lot of smart people from Scotland, despite Scotland's deficit and high spending and high taxes.