Highest number recorded since records began in 2001 Drugs causing record number of deaths

DRUGS are causing a record number of deaths in Leicestershire.

There were 88 deaths related to drug poisoning in the area between 2016 and 2018 – the highest number since records began in 2001.

Addiction charities said drug-related deaths were a preventable tragedy. Numbers have risen by three-quarters from 50 deaths between 2013 and 2015, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

There were 64 deaths in Leicester, up by a fifth from 52 between 2013 and 2015.

Nationally, rising numbers of deaths have been linked to heroin and morphine, but there have also been increases in deaths due to cocaine, ecstasy, “legal highs”, and prescription drugs.

Of the 88 deaths due to drug poisoning in Leicestershire last year, 48 were due to drug misuse – a category that only relates to illegal drugs. In Leicester, it was 42 out of 64.

Leicestershire saw 4.5 deaths due to drug poisoning per 100,000 people between 2016 and 2018, while the rate was 6.7 per 100,000 in Leicester. This compares to the England rate of 6.7 deaths per 100,000 people.

Across England and Wales, there were 4,359 deaths due to drug poisoning in 2018, up from 3,756 in 2017. Two-thirds of the deaths (2,917) were due to drug misuse.

Ben Humberstone, deputy director for health analysis and life events, said: “The number of deaths from drug use in 2018 was the highest since our records began in 1993. We have also seen the biggest year-onyear percentage increase.

“Previously, this had been linked to a rise in deaths related to opiates like heroin and morphine, but last year there were also increases in deaths across a wider variety of substances including cocaine and what had been known as ‘legal highs.’”

The most common drugs noted in the cause of death were heroin and morphine with 2,208, up from 1,985 in 2017.

The number of deaths relating to “legal highs” have doubled in a year from 61 in 2017 to 125 in 2018. Of these 60 were due to synthetic cannabinoids like Spice – up from 24 deaths a year before. Other types of drugs seeing big rises in related deaths were ecstasy, up 64% to 92 deaths, prescription epilepsy drug Gabapentin, up 55% to 93 deaths, and cocaine, up 48% to 637 deaths.

Mike Dixon, chief executive for drug and alcohol charity Addaction, said: “It’s a very tough day for families and those of us who work in drug treatment. We knew many of those who died and we remember them. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable.

“We already know what makes a difference to people who are struggling in the deepest end of life.”

The charity is calling for better quality treatment in the community – investment in outreach services to go to the people in need, support and medication for opiate users, and better access to overdose reversal drug Naloxone.

It also said more was needed to reach cocaine users by shifting the narrative away from the idea people have to hit rock bottom before accessing treatment, as it said most people who use cocaine don’t consider themselves in this category.