Death toll from drug abuse hits record level

DRUG POISONING deaths have surged to a new record level, driven in part by a jump in fatalities involving cocaine.

Official statistics show 3,744 deaths involving legal and illegal drugs were registered in England and Wales last year, which is the highest number since comparable records started in 1993.

Of those, 69 per cent were classed as drug misuse deaths.

The figures, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show there were 371 deaths involving cocaine – a rise of 16 per cent on the figure recorded in 2015.

It prompted criticism from Transform Drug Policy Foundation, which described the Home Office’s approach as “scandalous”.

Martin Powell from the foundation said the Government must accept responsibility, adding: “Other countries value the lives of vulnerable people who use drugs enough to implement and fund many measures proven to save lives, like decriminalising drug users, safer drug consumption rooms and prescribing heroin.”

A Government spokeswoman said: “While drug misuse is lower than 10 years ago, we are absolutely committed to reducing it and the harm it causes. That’s why last month the Government released a comprehensive new drugs strategy, setting out a balanced approach which brings together police, health, community and global partners to tackle the illicit drug trade, protect the most vulnerable and help those with drug dependency to recover.”

Blackpool recorded the highest rate of drug-related deaths in England and Wales for the sixth consecutive year. There were roughly 20 registered drug poisoning deaths for every 100,000 people between 2014 and 2016.

This was compared to a rate of 4.9 in Yorkshire and the Humber, where the highest local authority rate was 8.6 in Scarborough.