Deaths have risen despite soaring seizure of drugs

It has been revealed that 48 people died from drugs overdoses in 2006, compared with 23 in 2005.

There have also been two confirmed deaths and two more suspected this year, a meeting of the Aberdeenshire Alcohol and Drug Action Team heard.

Crack cocaine and heroin worth �105,000 has been seized in Grampian this year. Crack worth about �1m was seized last year - 10 times the Scottish total.

The average annual number of deaths for the five years preceding 2006 stood at just under 37.

SNP MSP for Aberdeen North, Brian Adam, said: "It is a tragedy that 48 people died of overdoses from illegal drugs in 2006 and this figure must be one of the highest on record.

"I am particularly concerned about the increase of crack cocaine dealing in the area and even though the police have made large seizures of drugs in recent times this does not seem to have hampered this disgusting trade."