Drug related death in the UK rises by 57% in a decade


The number of people being admitted to hospital after being poisoned by illegal drugs has soared by more than 50 per cent in a decade, alarming new figures show.

There were 14,279 hospital admissions where ‘poisoning by illicit drugs’ was the main diagnosis in 2014/15, a rise of 57 per cent since 2004/05.

The figures, released today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, show that 45 per cent of the admissions were patients aged 16 to 34.

The North West was the region with the highest rate of admissions, with 43 men and 39 women per 1,000 people in the population. 

London had the lowest rates at 14 for males and 11 females per 1,000 people. 

And deaths related to misuse of illicit drugs are at their highest level since records began in 1993, the figures show. 

In 2014, there were 2,250 deaths, an increase of 15 per cent since 2013, and a rise of 44 per cent since 2004.

Men accounted for 72 per cent of these deaths (1,620) and women, 28 per cent (624). 

POISONINGS: There were 14,279 hospital admissions where ‘poisoning by illicit drugs’ was the main diagnosis in 2014/15, a rise of 57 per cent since 2004/05, figures by the Health and Social Care Information Centre show. The report found 45 per cent of the admissions were patients aged 16 to 34

POISONINGS: The North West had the highest number of people admitted to hospital after being poisoned by illicit drugs, with 43 men and 39 women per 1,000 people respectively. Blackpool in particular had the highest rate of admissions, with 103 per 100,000 people. London had the lowest rates, with 14 men per 1,000 people and 11 women.

The report gave a revealing snapshot into drug use in England and Wales.

It showed around one in 12 (8.4 per cent) adults aged 16 to 59 reported taking an illicit drug in the last year.

This is a similar level to 2014/15 survey (8.6 per cent), but is significantly lower than a decade ago (10.5 per cent in the 2005/06 survey).

And drug use is even higher among young people.  Around 1 in 5 (18.0 per cent) young adults aged 16 to 24 had taken an illicit drug in the last year- around 1.1 million people, the figures show.

This level of drug use was similar to the 2014/15 survey (19.5 per cent), but significantly lower compared with a decade ago (25.2 per cent in the 2005/06 survey).  

DEATHS: Deaths related to misuse of illicit drugs are at their highest level since records began in 1993, the figures show. In 2014, there were 2,250 deaths, an increase of 15 per cent since 2013, and a rise of 44 per cent since 2004. Men accounted for 72 per cent of these deaths (1,620) and women, 28 per cent (624)

CAUSES OF DEATH: Last year, the majority of deaths were due to accidental poisoning by drugs. Three quarters of these were for men

The report – called ‘Statistics on Drug Misuse, England 2016’ – also showed: 

  • There were 74,800 hospital admissions where the primary or secondary diagnosis was drug-related mental health and behavioural disorders.
  • This is 9 per cent more than in 2013/14, when there were 68,600 admissions.
  • Liverpool was the area with the highest rate of these admissions, with 444 per 100,000 population.
  • The lowest rate was Wokingham with 32 per 100,000 population.
  • In 2014, there were 1,720 deaths due to accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances.
  • In 2014, 15 per cent of secondary school pupils, aged 11 to 15, had ever taken drugs – 10 per cent had taken drugs in the last year
  • Cannabis is the drug that 11 to 15 year olds were more likely to have taken, the report revealed.
  • In 2014, 6.7 per cent of pupils reported taking cannabis in the last year. 

Around one in 12 (8.4 per cent) of adults aged 16 to 59 reported taking an illicit drug in the last year. And drug use is even higher among young people. Around 1 in 5 (18.0 per cent) young adults aged 16 to 24 had taken an illicit drug in the last year- around 1.1 million people

Cannabis was the most commonly used drug overall, with 6.5 per cent of adults aged 16 to 59 having used it in the last year (around 2.1 million people). Men were twice as likely to report using cannabis than women, 9.1 per cent of men compared with 3.8 per cent of women. Men were almost three times more likely than women to take powder cocaine (3.3 per cent compared with 1.2 per cent) and ecstasy (2.2 per cent compared with 0.8 per cent) in the last year

Cannabis was the most commonly used drug overall, with 6.5 per cent of adults aged 16 to 59 having used it in the last year (around 2.1 million people).

This was similar to the 2014/15 survey (6.7 per cent), but showing a significant fall compared with a decade ago (8.7 per cent).

Men were twice as likely to report using cannabis than women, 9.1 per cent of men compared with 3.8 per cent of women.

Men were almost three times more likely than women to take powder cocaine (3.3 per cent compared with 1.2 per cent) and ecstasy (2.2 per cent compared with 0.8 per cent) in the last year.

It also showed fewer than 1 in 100 adults had used legal highs in the last year, a similar number to 2014/15.

But more young people had experimented, with around 1 in 40 young adults aged 16 to 24 taking a legal high in the last year, a similar estimate to 2014/15. 

YOUNG PEOPLE AND DRUGS: More than a quarter of 15 year olds have been offered cannabis and 11 per cent had tried it, the report showed. And 13 per cent had been offered other drugs, and 2 per cent had tried one. Of those that had used it in the last year, 43 per cent used it in the last month

The survey also revealed that more than a quarter of 15 year olds have been offered cannabis and 11 per cent had tried it.

And 13 per cent had been offered other drugs, and 2 per cent had tried one.

Of those that had used it in the last year, 43 per cent used it in the last month. 

Paul Niblett, responsible statistician at HSCIC, said: ‘Today’s report gives insight into the misuse of drugs in society, and shines a light on the prevalence of drug use among different age groups.

‘Reporting changes in rates of drug-related hospital admissions and misuse of drugs in adults provides valuable information for primary and secondary healthcare services, policy makers and drug rehabilitation professionals.’ 

 

  

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