News
RECORD DRUG DEATHS FOR
ENGLAND AND WALES
ENGLAND AND WALES have once again recorded their
highest ever number of drug-related deaths, according
to the latest figures from the Office for National
Statistics (ONS).
There were 3,756 deaths related to drug poisoning in
2017, a slight increase on 2016’s figure of 3,744 (DDN,
September 2017, page 4) and the highest number since
records began. However, while drug-related deaths rose
by ‘a statistically significant amount’ each year between
2012 and 2015 – mainly driven by heroin-related
fatalities – rates since 2015 have only increased slightly
and remain ‘broadly stable’, says ONS.
Two-thirds of deaths were among men, and once
again the North East had a ‘significantly’ higher death
rate than any other region. While the figures relate to
both illegal and legal drugs, almost 70 per cent were
classed as the result of ‘drug misuse’, with the highest
rate of these in the 40-49 age group.
Although deaths from ‘most opioids’ have remained
steady, fentanyl-related deaths have continued to rise –
to 75, from 58 in 2016 – while deaths related to cocaine
have now increased for six consecutive years. There were
432 cocaine-related deaths in 2017, up from 371 the
previous year. The number of deaths related to
pregabalin, meanwhile, has risen from just four in 2009
to 136, although NPS-related deaths halved between
2016 – when the Psychoactive Substances Act was
introduced – and 2017, to 61 from 123.
Release said the death rates were a ‘national crisis’
requiring a coordinated public health response.
‘The government is driving this devastating public
health crisis by punishing people for their drug use
instead of implementing compassi