WALES NOW A UK EPICENTRE FOR DRUGS DEATHS
TWO Welsh counties have been named in the top five hotspots for drug misuse deaths in England and Wales.
Swansea had the highest rate in Wales for deaths related to drug misuse, new figures published today by the ONS reveal.
This was the second-highest across England and Wales – only Blackpool was higher.
Neighbouring Neath Port Talbot had the third highest.
Earlier this month a Swansea woman opened up about her crack cocaine and heroin use, saying the £210-a-day habit had taken over her life.
Just last week a grieving mother talked to us about her son, who died after a heroin overdose in a locked Marks and Spencer toilet.
Last year heroin users in Neath Port Talbot – a county which also has one of the UK’s 10 worst heroin death rates – told us how they struggled with their addictions.
The latest figures show drug-related deaths in Wales are at their highest since records began in 1993.
In 2018, there were 327 drug poisoning deaths, of which 208 were related to drug misue. In comparison, in 1993, when records began, there were 94 drug poisoning deaths, of which 33 related to drug misuse.
Drug poisoning deaths involve a broad spectrum of substances, including controlled and non-controlled drugs, and, as well as deaths from drug abuse and dependence,
figures include accidents and suicides involving drug poisonings.
On the other hand, a drug misuse death is one where either the underlying cause is drug abuse or drug dependence.
The reasons for Swansea’s and Neath Port Talbot’s unwanted distinction are complex and varied, ranging from the decline of industry and employment to the services available for drug users.
Looking at today’s figures, Professor Alex Stevens, of the school of social policy, sociology and social research at the University of Kent, said the numbers keep rising because the same factors and policies are in place – an increase in the supply of drugs, an ageing population, austerity and poverty.
The professor said drug-related deaths are higher in working-class, de-industrialised areas which now have high unemployment rates.
“This latest jump shows how wrong the path we are following is,” he added. “We have a criminal justice-led approach which is based on the idea that you can threaten people out of taking drugs, which does not work.
“We have a system that is led by the Home Office but we need to stop punishing people for taking drugs.”
Advocating for the decriminalisation of drug possession, the professor said responsibility needed to be shifted to the department of health and social care while investing in drug treatment services that can save people’s lives.
Rob Barker, training co-ordinator for Swansea-based drug and alcohol agency Barod, said the latest figures didn’t come as a surprise, adding the demand for their services was continually growing.
Mr Barker said they had to be continually creative and innovative, doing more outreach work, for example. However, he said that we should be looking at other countries where drug-related deaths are significantly lower and what they are doing differently, such as having drug consumption rooms.
“It is incredibly sad that we are discussing this each year,” he continued. “We only see numbers on a page but we have to remember these are people that are vulnerable and who we need to support and protect as much as we can.
“Some action needs to be taken ultimately.”
Across England and Wales, between 2017 and 2018, there were increases in the number of deaths involving a wide range of substances, though opiates, such as heroin and morphine, continued to be the most frequently mentioned type of drug.
Since 2006, over half of all drug poisoning deaths in each year have involved an opiate. In 2018, across England and Wales, a total of 2,208 drug poisoning deaths had an opiate mentioned on the death certificate (51% of all drug poisoning deaths).
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We are committed to reducing the avoidable harm caused by substance misuse.
“Despite continued and significant cuts to our budget by the UK government we have increased our funding for substance misuse to almost £53m this year.
“We are also working with partners across Wales to ensure we do everything we can to reduce drugrelated deaths.”
Josie Smith, head of substance misuse at Public Health Wales, said: “It’s really vital that we recognise that these figures relate to real people and the impact on their families, partners and friends may be devastating.
“Every effort must be made to ensure that support is sought early on to prevent escalation of problem use and dependency without the fear of stigmatisation or social exclusion and with a recognition that drug use occurs amongst all age groups and all strata of society.”
In a statement, South Wales Police said: “It is difficult to overstate the misery caused by Class A drugs in our communities and the impact not only on individuals involved in drugs, but on families and friends.
“We continue with our daily enforcement on the streets of Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot and work closely with the harm-reduction agencies to encourage individuals to stop consuming drugs, particularly those most harmful, such as heroin.
“Our officers work determinedly to signpost those in need to appropriate support services, but we are equally committed to enforcing the law as the public would rightly expect, further protecting those being exploited by ruthless drug dealers.”
Neath Port Talbot Council said the council was concerned to note that the latest statistics published by the Office for National Statistics showed that the number of deaths related to drugs in the area remained high.
In a statement, the council said: “The council initiated a Critical Incident Group in September 2018 which brought together the most senior leaders across local agencies to explore why the area was experiencing such problems and to agree steps that could be taken across all agencies to address the issues.
“Amongst the actions agreed was the development of an assertive outreach capability that would seek out those individuals most at risk and to ensure rapid access to substitute opiate treatment.
“A significant number of high-risk people have been proactively engaged.
“The Critical Incident Group was stood down in February 2019 but the work initiated by the group continues to be overseen by the two Public Services Boards of Neath Port Talbot and Swansea who are meeting through a series of joint meetings.”