A record 4,800 deaths from drug overdoses in a year

DrUG-reLATeD deaths have jumped to a record high driven by a cocaine epidemic and a surge in methadone overdoses.

Deaths from abuse of controlled drugs reached 3,060 in england and Wales last year, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures said.

Overall drug- related deaths – including those from abuse of legal drugs such as anti-depressants and paracetamol – hit 4,859, the highest since records began in 1993.

it was the first time the annual number of drug abuse deaths tipped over 3,000. in 2011 it stood at 1,700.

Cocaine deaths rose for the tenth consecutive year to 840, up 8.1 per cent year-on-year, the ONS said.

Methadone-related fatalities were up 28.5 per cent to 663. Deaths from ‘new psychoactives’ – previously known as ‘legal highs’ – jumped by a staggering 88 per cent to 258.

By comparison, deaths involving opiates such as heroin fell 1.9 per cent year-on-year to 2,219.

reasons for the surge in methadone deaths is unclear but one expert suggested it could be linked with a deterioration in drug treatment services, particularly during the pandemic. Harry Shapiro, director of DrugWise, said: ‘ People weren’t seeing their key workers and weren’t getting help and support, with things such as reducing methadone dosage.’

Some of the deaths in yesterday’s figures will have taken place in 2020 but were recorded in last year’s data because of time lags due to inquests.

Dame Carol Black, who carried out a report on drugs policy two years ago, last year criticised cuts to drug treatment services. ‘The findings have been disturbing, even shocking,’ her follow-up report said.

‘Funding cuts have left treatment and recovery services on their knees. The workforce is depleted, especially of professionally qualified people, and demoralised.

‘Vital services have been cut back, particularly inpatient detoxification, residential rehabilitation, specialist services for young people, and treatment for cannabis and stimulant users.’

Drug charity Turning Point called on the Government to continue to invest in life-saving health, housing and social care services.

‘The pandemic exacerbated an existing public health crisis – however, we are clear that drug deaths are preventable,’ a spokesman said.

‘Services are on their knees’