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| Drug-related deaths reach record levels in England and Wales | Drug-related deaths reach record levels in England and Wales |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The number of drug-related deaths in England and Wales reached record levels last year, figures from the Office for National Statistics show. | The number of drug-related deaths in England and Wales reached record levels last year, figures from the Office for National Statistics show. |
| Fatalities involving heroin and cocaine were both at their highest since comparable records began in 1993. | Fatalities involving heroin and cocaine were both at their highest since comparable records began in 1993. |
| The increasing purity of substances is believed to be a possible factor behind the rise in deaths. | The increasing purity of substances is believed to be a possible factor behind the rise in deaths. |
| ONS researcher Vanessa Fearn said that age was another cause for the increase, particularly with older heroin users. | ONS researcher Vanessa Fearn said that age was another cause for the increase, particularly with older heroin users. |
| Overall, 3,674 drug poisoning deaths involving legal and illegal substances were registered in 2015. Of these, 2,479 involved illegal drugs only. | Overall, 3,674 drug poisoning deaths involving legal and illegal substances were registered in 2015. Of these, 2,479 involved illegal drugs only. |
| The ONS said the mortality rate from drug misuse was the highest ever recorded, at 43.8 deaths per million population. | The ONS said the mortality rate from drug misuse was the highest ever recorded, at 43.8 deaths per million population. |
| Older users | Older users |
| Ms Fearn said people receiving treatment for drug abuse were "older than they used to be". | Ms Fearn said people receiving treatment for drug abuse were "older than they used to be". |
| She added: "Deaths involving heroin and morphine have more than doubled since 2012, partly driven by a rise in heroin purity and availability over the last three years. | She added: "Deaths involving heroin and morphine have more than doubled since 2012, partly driven by a rise in heroin purity and availability over the last three years. |
| "Age is also a factor in the record levels of drug deaths, as heroin users are getting older and they often have other conditions, such as lung disease and hepatitis, that make them particularly vulnerable." | "Age is also a factor in the record levels of drug deaths, as heroin users are getting older and they often have other conditions, such as lung disease and hepatitis, that make them particularly vulnerable." |
| The death rate among people aged 30-39 is now at a record high, at 98.4 deaths per million population. | The death rate among people aged 30-39 is now at a record high, at 98.4 deaths per million population. |
| And deaths in the 40-49 bracket are also at a record high, with 95.1 deaths per million. | And deaths in the 40-49 bracket are also at a record high, with 95.1 deaths per million. |
| Ms Fearn also said 2014 was a record year for heroin production globally, which might also be impacting on the current availability of heroin. | Ms Fearn also said 2014 was a record year for heroin production globally, which might also be impacting on the current availability of heroin. |
| The figures showed that there were 320 deaths involving cocaine, up from 247 in the previous year. | |
| Mortality rates relating to that drug have increased for four consecutive years, with most cocaine-linked fatalities occurring in men aged 30 to 49. | |
| The figure for cocaine-related deaths will include some where it was taken in the form of crack cocaine, as it is not possible to separately identify crack from other forms of the drug at post-mortem, the ONS report said. | |
| It added: "Since cocaine is often taken alongside heroin, it is likely that changes in the purity and availability of heroin, as well as increases in the purity of cocaine, are contributing to the rise in deaths involving cocaine in recent years." | |
| Izzi Seccombe, chair of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, said councils were committed to helping to ensure drug users got support for treatment, and were spending more on drug and alcohol treatment than in any other area of public health. | |
| She added: "However, with public health grants for local authorities being cut by 9% over the next four years... no service is immune from spending reductions, which could seriously undermine our efforts to prevent all kinds of major health conditions." | |
| Deaths linked to new psychoactive substances - formerly known as "legal highs" - have also increased over the last five years, with 114 registered last year. | |
| These substances were banned earlier this year. |