How many deaths by a methadone overdose have been recorded by each (a) local authority and (b) NHS board in each year since 2004.

The GROS annual publication Drug-related Deaths in Scotland provides background information about drug-related death statistics, covers the definition of the kinds of death which are counted as drug-related and how the drugs involved in such deaths are reported (and can be found at the following link: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/drug-related-deaths/index.html).
The latest report explains why there is a break in the series of figures for drugs reported between 2007 and 2008 (and can be found at the following link: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/drug-related-deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-in-2008.pdf).
The figures which are available are given in table 1, It is important to note that alcohol was also present in some cases.
Table 1: Drug-Related Deaths for which Methadone was the Only Drug Reported

| Registration Year

2004
| 2005
| 2006
| 2007
| 2008

Local Authority
|
|
|
|
|

Aberdeen City
| 1
| .
| .
| .
| .

Aberdeenshire
| .
| .
| .
| .
| 1

Angus
| 1
| .
| .
| .
| .

Argyll + Bute
| .
| .
| .
| 1
| .

Ayrshire East
| .
| .
| .
| 2
| .

Ayrshire Nor