Record number die after taking illegal drugs

in any three year period since records began in 2001-2003.

Drug misuse covers deaths caused by drug poisoning where the drug is a controlled substance.

National figures suggest the rising number of deaths is being caused by cocaine and fentanyl, a powerful opioid drug that may be being mixed with heroin, causing accidental overdoses.

The number of deaths due to drug misuse in Kirklees has jumped by two-fifths from 38 in 2012-2014.

In Calderdale, there were 26 deaths due to drug misuse in 20152017, the same number as in 20122014. The overall number of deaths due to all drug poisoning was 55 in Kirklees and 37 in Calderdale in 2015-2017.

There were 3,756 deaths relating to drug poisoning in England and Wales in 2017, up from 3,744 in 2016 and the highest number seen in a year since records began in 1993.

Two-thirds of drug-related deaths were related to drug misuse, 2,503 in 2017, down from 2,596 in 2016.

Deaths involving cocaine and fentanyl continued to rise while deaths related to new psychoactive substances halved in 2017, from 123 to 61.

There were 106 deaths due to fentanyl or fentanyl analogues in 2017, compared to 59 in 2016, while the number of deaths due to cocaine rose from 371 to 432, according to figures published this week by the Office for National Statistics.

Fentanyl and its analogues have been found mixed with heroin, causing accidental overdose in users. Using evidence from similar patterns in the US and Canada, the National Crime Agency reasons that the addition of fentanyls to heroin is possibly due to their cheaper cost and higher potency.

Public Health England issued a warning to heroin users and health officials regarding the contamination of heroin with potent synthetic opiates such as fentanyl.

Carfentanyl, a synthetic opiate much more potent than fentanyl, was first seen mentioned in death certificates in 2017 and accounted for 27 deaths, that is, 87% of the 31 deaths related to fentanyl analogues in 2017.

For cocaine, the National Crime Agency reports that crack cocaine purity has continued to rise for the fifth year and that purity at user level is at an all-time high, with little variance between wholesale and user level.

In 2017, there were 1,164 deaths involving heroin and morphine, a decline of 4% (45 deaths) and the first decline since 2012.

Ellie Osborn, Health Analysis Statistician, Office for National Statistics said: “The figures published today show that the level of drug poisoning deaths in 2017 remained stable.

“However, despite deaths from most opiates declining or remaining steady, deaths from fentanyl continued to rise, as did cocaine deaths, which increased for the sixth consecutive year.

“Our new in-depth study of coroners’ records report shows that there are common characteristics of drugrelated deaths.

“These findings combined can be used to develop initiatives and policies that are targeted to support those at greatest risk of drug addiction.”