Psychedelic Consumption - FOI Response Register

1.    How many times ‘micro dosing’ psychedelic substances was included as a reason for admissions to your hospitals in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date?

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested as the ICD 10 coding system does not code for “micro dosing”.

2.    How many times the consumption of psychedelic substances in any quantity was included as a reason for admissions to your hospitals in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date.

NHS Shetland uses the ICD 10 coding system. Figures provided are for the number of inpatients where ICD 10 code: X42, or Y12, or T40, or Y49.6, or X62 was listed as Main Condition or Other Condition.

Such substances include but are not limited to:

-       Magic Mushrooms (e.g. Psilocybin)

-       MDMA

-       LSD

-       DMT

-       Ayahuasca (e.g. Harmaline)

-       Salvia

Please break this down by drug, year and patient age. Please provide information in an Excel Spreadsheet.

See attached spreadsheet

With regards to breakdown by drug and specific ages, and other answers where we have provided <5 answers, this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information/breakdown carries a high risk of identifying individuals. The combination of specific drug, admission date and age increases the risk of ‘jigsaw identification’. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.