FIFE ALCOHOL AND DRUG PARTNERSHIP PROFILES 'TYPICAL' DRUG OVERDOSE VICTIM

A Total of 135 People Have Died Since the Start of 2005 in Fife
Because of Drugs -- and Agencies Working to Stop the Deaths Recognise
It Is 135 Too Many.

But, while every victim was different in their own way, research by
the Fife Alcohol and Drug Partnership has allowed organisations to
build up a picture of a "typical" drug user and help identify the
areas where further work is needed, in treatment and
intervention.

A white male aged 32 or 33 living in central Fife, the victim would
have started his substance misuse at 16 and left school around then.

He would have gained employment or started an apprenticeship but his
childhood would have been disrupted; he would have had a family
history of psychiatric difficulties and/or substance misuse and may
have suffered physical/sexual abuse and/or spent time in care.

From 16 onwards, he would have proceeded to misuse drugs including
cannabis, amphetamines, LSD and ecstasy and around four years after
leaving school he would have started taking heroin.

The report suggests the person would have started injecting heroin at
around 24, although he would have maintained close relationships with
friends and family throughout his life.

He would have had children. However, they would not have lived with
him and he would have lost custody.

Known to at least two services intermittently including his GP,
criminal justice services and specialist substance misuse services in
Fife during the five years before his death, he would have been
misusing several substances including heroin.

Research suggests the victim would have a criminal record and would
have served a prison sentence at some point, and would have been
arrested at least once.

He would have committed crimes linked to his drug use with charges
such as misuse of drugs or theft, and at the time of his death he
would be unemployed, living alone or with other adults and would not
have changed accommodation type in six months.

On the day of his death, the victim would have purchased at least one
"tenner" bag of heroin alongside alcohol and benzodiazepines.

He would have died in the presence of others and would have been
believed to be sleeping, so any attempts to revive him would have been
delayed.