20 alcohol and drug users lost lives in a year

LATEST drug and alcohol figures have hinted at the toll taken by problems and lifestyles associated with substance misuse.

Halton Council has reported that 20 clients at the borough’s Halton Integrated Recovery Service (HIRS) had died in 2016-17.

Of those, 10 had been receiving support in relation to alcohol, five for opiates and two for alcohol and cocaine.

One client being helped because of cannabis, one for amphetamine and one for opiates and cocaine were also reported.

A report published for the council’s safer policy board said there had been an increase in complex cases related to alcohol.

It added that the highest number of deaths were among those in the 45-55 range.

Eleven of the service users from Widnes and nine from Runcorn.

Only two were women and the rest men.

More broadly the report showed differences among the age ranges with heavy drinking now seeming to have fallen out of favour with younger people, with the percentage who drink once or more a week plunging from 47% in 2007 to 9% across the North West.

Binge drinking has dropped.

Despite a longer term falling trend in hospital admissions among Halton drinkers, the number had increased to also slightly above the target figure, but there were 72% fewer young people admitted to hospital because of booze in 2015-16 than in 2006-7.

During that same period, 15-24-year-olds have become more likely to be admitted because of the use of other substances.

The report said work is under way to educate youngsters in schools.

In terms of other substances, councillors have been informed that during the last quarter, the number of clients completing their opiate treatment course was below the Change, Grow, Live independent treatment service and national averages.

Workshops and training had taken place and a review of all service users has been ordered.