[ad_1]
The number of drug-related deaths in England and Wales has reached a record high, official figures show, with the increase in mortality affecting women more than men.
There were 4,393 drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales in 2019, compared to 4,359 in 2018, the highest number since comparable records began in 1993, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Two-thirds, or 2,883, of the deaths were related to drug abuse, a small drop from 2018 but not a statistically significant decrease.
The drug death rate among men decreased to 104.7 per million in 2019, from 105.4 in 2018, while the drug death rate among women increased for the 10th consecutive year to 49.1 deaths per million in 2019 , compared to 47.5 deaths in 2018.
Cocaine deaths continue to rise, reaching another record of 708 in 2019. And there was a similar disproportionality among cocaine deaths for women, with cocaine deaths increasing by 7.7% among men but increasing by 26.5% for women. women. The purity of cocaine in the retail market is at a maximum of 10 years, according to experts. It is not possible to distinguish the form of cocaine, for example, powder cocaine or crack cocaine, in relation to deaths.
Jessica Southgate, executive director of Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk, said: “Drug use by women is different from men: men often obtain introductory drugs with their friends, while women women are more likely to be introduced through partners. Women often turn to drugs to cope with the impact of trauma and abuse.
“It can be more difficult for women to get help for their addiction. Too often drug services are dominated by men, some of whom they may know, and these can be uncomfortable and even dangerous places for women. Women who are mothers may also worry about seeking help for fear that their children will be taken away.
“This can take longer for women to get the support they need, by which time their drug use may have increased.”
Death rates from drug abuse continue to highlight a sharp divide between north and south.
The Northeast has had the highest rate of drug abuse of any region in England for the past seven consecutive years. In 2019, the rate was 95 deaths per million people, compared to 33.6 in eastern England, which had the lowest rate.
Mark Moody, CEO of Change Grow Live, the UK’s largest drug and alcohol treatment provider, said: “The rate of drug-related deaths remains at crisis levels.”
He added: “The drug-related crisis has been deepening for more than a decade. At the heart of the trend is a perfect storm of factors; divestment, aging of the drug user population and increasingly complex health needs.
“In addition to these challenges, the global coronavirus pandemic has impacted and continues to affect vulnerable people the most. This includes people with chronic health problems related to drug use and people without a place to live ”.
Laura Bunt, deputy executive director of the drug, alcohol and mental health charity We Are With You, said it must be recognized that problem drug use is often a reaction to people’s environment.
“Problems like increasing homelessness, poor mental health and lack of economic opportunity in some areas lead to people using drugs,” he said.
“It is not surprising, therefore, that drug-related deaths are highest in the UK’s most deprived areas, and the impact of the Covid-19 crisis is likely to exacerbate many of these problems.
“For people already facing drug, alcohol and mental health problems, these may intensify in the coming months. It is more important than ever that the government stick to its leveling agenda to address inequalities across the country. “
