The number of alcohol-related deaths in South Ayrshire increased over the 12 months from 2020 to 2021.
The latest figures have been revealed in a recent report from the National Records of Scotland (NRS).
Scotland-wide, alcohol-related deaths increased by 55, to 1,245 – the highest figure since 2008.
South Ayrshire saw figures increase after a drop in 2020, going from 27 in 2019, to 20 in 2020, and 24 in the latest figures.
Though 24 deaths is an increasing figure, pre-2019, the record number of mortalities was in 2006 when 30 deaths were recorded.
The Ayrshire and Arran Health Board as a whole also lies above the national average.
In 2021, in East and North Ayrshire, there were 30 and 37 alcohol-related deaths respectively.
The average mortality rates per 100,000 population in Scottish council areas, between 2017-2021. Source: National Records of Scotland.
The national average mortality rate (for alcohol-related deaths) per 100,000 population sat at 20.8 between the years 2017 and 2021.
This gave the NHS Ayrshire and Arran health board an average of 21.5.
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