23 October 2024
Today (Wednesday 23 October), the ONS published its annual report on drug-related deaths. The report finds that:
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In 2023, there were 5,448 drug misuse deaths registered in England and Wales, an increase of 11% (4,907 deaths) compared with 2022, and the highest number since records began in 1993
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1,118 deaths involved cocaine, which is 30.5% more than 2022 and represents the 12th consecutive annual rise.
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Rates of drug-related deaths are sharply divided between the North and South. The North East continues to have the highest rates of drug-related deaths; London had the lowest rate for drug-related deaths.
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Rates of drug misuse deaths continue to be elevated among those born in the 1970s, often referred to as "Generation X", with the highest rate in those aged 40 to 49 years.
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The most common type of drugs implicated in drug misuse deaths in 2023 were opiates, which were implicated in 46.8% of all deaths.
Statement from WithYou
Simon Phillips, Chief Executive of WithYou, says:
Every single one of these deaths is a preventable, avoidable tragedy. Behind the numbers are real people, with family and friends grieving their loss. My thoughts are with them today.
“The reasons behind this public health crisis are deep-rooted and complex, but to save lives, we need the new Government to be brave and bold. To take this tragedy seriously we want to see guaranteed funding for high-quality evidence-based drug treatment and recovery services in the autumn budget, and a long-term commitment in the spring spending review.
“Steps to increase the supply and accessibility of naloxone must be implemented as soon as possible, and we want the Government to go even further, and ensure it is available to all opiate users and their friends and family members too. In our services, we’re hearing more about dangerous contaminated drugs; widespread drug-checking services need to be accessible so people know what they’re taking. Drug consumption rooms are also needed, where people who use drugs can do so safely - reducing overdose risk and needle-sharing, and improving access to treatment.
“The Government must also commit to tackling the root causes of why people have challenges with drugs. We cannot stop drug-related deaths if people don’t have safe places to live, access to health and mental health services, and a safety net for when they need it.
“Today, we remember those we have lost. For anyone who is worried about their drug use, or that of someone close to them, we are here to help. Our webchat, available at wearewithyou.org.uk, offers free, confidential advice from expert recovery workers.“
Statement from case study
After a significant trauma in his childhood, Dan Robinson turned to alcohol and drugs to get him through each day. For nearly two decades, Dan self-medicated away the pain. But then Dan’s world fell apart and he tried to take his own life.
Thanks to support from drug, alcohol and mental health services and a newfound love for playing and coaching rugby, today, Dan’s life couldn’t be more different. Dan is now the captain of the Telford Hornets Rugby Club and he works at Shropshire Recovery Partnership, which is delivered by WithYou.
Dan says: “There is no shame in needing support. There are so many organisations out there who care and who are ready and waiting to help you.
“If I hadn’t gotten support when I did, I wouldn’t be here today. But because I sought help – and because there were people there who were willing to help me – I’ve been given a second chance at life.”
Dan first started drinking alcohol when he was 14 years old. Reflecting back on how he used alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism, he says:
“I was sexually assaulted as a child, but I didn’t talk to anyone about it. I didn’t know how to. When I drank alcohol, it didn’t hurt as much, it was like this blanket that took away some of the pain.
“I started taking class A drugs at the age of 18 and continued to use them to self-medicate, as for me, this was easier than talking to someone about what I’d been through. I thought I was in control but I wasn’t, and that was a scary and dark place to be. I was a slave to my drug use.
“Then COVID came and my life just blew up. Lockdown meant that I couldn’t see my friends and couldn’t work, and I lost the little purpose I had left. Over the course of seven months, I racked up nearly £10,000 of debt from my drink and drug use. I didn’t see a way out and it felt like an insurmountable task to get my life back on track. So I tried to take my own life.”
But after a chance encounter with an old friend and with his parents’ help, Dan started a rehab programme, began volunteering for WithYou, and found a new passion for keeping fit and active. Dan explains:
“I started going to the gym and playing and coaching rugby. Having something active to throw myself into helped to release stress and it became a way for me to deal with the emotions that I’d spent nearly two decades trying to block out. But more than that, it gave me a purpose.
“I’ve just been made the captain of Telford Hornets rugby club. It’s a real circular moment for me – not many people who’ve come from a place where I’ve been get to be a rugby team captain of a community Rugby club.
“If I had to share one piece of advice, it would be to ask for help. If you’re experiencing challenges with your mental health, drugs or alcohol, then reach out for support.”