Record number of Britons dying from drug poisoning, figures show
New official figures show a remarkable rise in heroin and morphine-related deaths in Britain.
A data released by Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates a total 3,346 deaths attributed to drug poisoning from legal and illegal substances in England and Wales in 2014. The figures represent almost two-thirds rise over the past two years and the highest since the ONS began recording such deaths in 1993.
The ONS report covers accidents and suicides involving drug poisonings, as well as deaths from drug abuse and drug dependence. According to the figures, the mortality rate for all drug-related deaths increased significantly for both men and women last year. Gender-wise, there were 80.7 and 38.8 deaths per million of the population respectively.
Of the total fatalities, 2,248 were linked to misuse or overdoes of illegal and often cheaper drugs sold out on the streets. According to the report, most victims were people in the age group between 40 and 49.
The report states: “This age pattern of drug misuse deaths is broadly in line with treatment figures from Public Health England, which show that people receiving treatment for drug misuse are getting older”.
Within last year's total, there were 952 deaths involving heroin and morphine, a rise of 64 per cent since 2012, while deaths involving cocaine rose sharply to 247 from 169.
The ONS also highlighted an increase in drug supply of the drug, which it said had led to declining prices.The figures have alarmed officials who are calling for more efforts on treatment.
“Fewer people are using heroin but the harms are increasingly concentrated among older, more vulnerable users and those not recently in touch with their local drug treatment services. We need to ensure the most vulnerable users can access drug treatment services.” Rosanna O’Connor, director of alcohol, drugs and tobacco at Public Health England said.
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