Drug-related Deaths In The UK Continue To Rise

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 27 Aug 2009 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

A report released by St George's, University of London reveals there were 1,952 UK drug-related deaths in 2008, an increase of 2.7 per cent from the previous year. Heroin and morphine remain the substances involved in most deaths, according to the Drug-related deaths in the UK Annual Report 2009. England, Wales and Northern Ireland actually saw a slight reduction in deaths, but record figures for Scotland boosted the total.

The report has been released by the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths, part of the International Centre for Drug Policy at St George's. Its release coincides with a report on drug deaths registered - but not necessarily occurring - in 2008 for England and Wales, unveiled today by the Office for National Statistics.

The St George's report contains information reported by coroners in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, as well as one procurator fiscal in Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, that shows there were 1,490 drug-related deaths in 2008. This is about three per cent less than the previous year's figure of 1,539. However, when added to the remainder of the record 478 deaths reported by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency - an increase of 34 per cent in Scotland - the total UK figure rises to 1,952, an increase of 2.7 per cent.

Heroin and morphine accounted for most of the deaths, and were implicated in 45 per cent in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, slightly less than in 2007. In Scotland, however, the figure was 64 per cent.

The report also contains details of the involvement of 'legal highs', such as GBL and piperazines. Piperazines, known in their most common form as BZP, were detected in 13 deaths in 2008, an increase from nine in 2007 and three in 2006. Of these 25 deaths, it was implicated as a cause in 16. Over the last five years, there have been seven cases where death may have been caused by GBL, with just one in 2008. GBL cases are hard to identify, as it converts to the substance GBH - which was banned in 2003 - in the body.

Alcohol's consistent prevalence in drug-related deaths is also highlighted in the report.

The highest annual drug-related death rate was recorded in Brighton & Hove, with 20.7 deaths per 100,000 people, a similar figure to the previous year. Dumbarton came second, with 15.4 per 100,000 - a significant decline - and the City of Manchester showed a small decrease to come third, with 11 per 100,000.

The majority (76 per cent) of deaths were of males, and 75 per cent of all those who died were under 45-years-old.

In England and Wales, 64 per cent of cases died from accidental poisoning. In Scotland, the figure was 92 per cent, and in Northern Ireland, 37 per cent.

Professor Hamid Ghodse, Director of the International Centre for Drug Policy, St George's, University of London, said: "This report reinforces the need for continued vigilance and constant monitoring of the drug-related deaths situation across the UK to ensure that the reasons for such trends are understood so that appropriate measures and interventions can be put in place to prevent avoidable deaths and save lives.

"It is also important to be alert to any new developments in the use of drugs, including 'legal highs'. Prevention of the loss of life at any age, especially of the young, due to the scourge of substance abuse has to be a top priority for any government. "

Notes

The Drug-related deaths in the UK Annual Report 2009, as well as previous reports, can be found here.

The National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths has published its latest annual report on drug-related deaths in the UK. As in previous years, the data and analysis in this report is intended to inform authorities at the local, regional and national levels, as well as health professionals and the general public, about the serious consequences of drug abuse. The report provides a number of indicators of drug abuse patterns, trends and early warnings on emerging drug problems so that appropriate and timely action can be taken.

The National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths is managed by the International Centre for Drug Policy at St. George's, University of London.

The Programme's principal aim is to contribute to the reduction and prevention of drug-related deaths in the UK due to the misuse of drugs, both licit and illicit, by collecting, analysing and disseminating information on the extent and nature of death.

Source
St George's, University of London