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.