#StopTheDeaths conference 2026
Scottish Drugs Forum’s annual #StopTheDeaths conference returns in 2026 with a two-day event dedicated to reducing drug-related deaths and harms. This year’s conference takes place on Wednesday, 26 and Thursday, 27 August at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.
Timed to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, the conference will bring together key stakeholders, including people with living and lived experience, policymakers, service providers, and health and social care professionals. Together, we will explore democratic policy development, service improvement and harm reduction practices.
Day One
Inequality, policy and the human impact of drug harms
The first day of our Stop The Deaths conference focuses on poverty and inequality as key drivers of drug-related harm, deepening understanding of how structural disadvantage, deprivation and social exclusion shape patterns of substance use – and highlighting the urgent need for responses rooted in equity and social justice.
Sessions will explore the impact of drug-related deaths on families and young people, alongside the significant – and often overlooked – role of alcohol in wider substance-related harm.
Set within a rapidly evolving political landscape, the programme will support delegates to understand and respond to national priorities, government decision-making and global drug policy developments.
Get your ticket for Day One of Stop The Deaths 2026
Day Two
Emerging trends, substances and innovative responses
Day Two offers a forward-looking exploration of current and emerging issues in substance use, highlighting new trends, research and practical responses.
Sessions will examine substances of growing concern, including cocaine and ketamine, alongside innovative approaches such as drug checking services. Delegates will gain a deeper understanding of evolving patterns of use and their implications for practice, policy and service delivery.
A dedicated focus on neurodiversity and substance use will offer insight into how different cognitive experiences intersect with drug use, helping professionals better recognise and respond to diverse support needs.
Peer-led research will feature strongly throughout the programme, bringing forward real-world evidence and perspectives from affected communities to support meaningful, context-driven practice.