Torbay drug deaths double

Addiction charities say drug-related deaths are a "preventable" tragedy

The number of deaths from drug poisoning in Torbay has doubled in 10 years, new figures show.

There were 51 deaths between 2016 and 2018, compared to 24 a decade earlier.

The number of deaths was the highest since records began in 2001, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

The rate of drug-related deaths doubled over the period to 13.6 per 100,000 people. 

For Torbay, that is now twice the rate for England of 6.7 deaths per 100,000.

Addiction charities say drug-related deaths are a “preventable” tragedy.

In Torbay, the drug and alcohol services have seen cutbacks in funding of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Torbay Council which commissions the services from its NHS partners saw this year’s grant from Public Health England reduced by £100,000 to £2.37m on top of previous cuts of more than £300,000.

Councillors were told that the 4% budget reduction for 2019/20 could be done without a damaging effect on clients, but changes included less time with professionals. 

Figures show that every £1 spent on drug services saves society £2.50.

Earlier this year former heroin addicts in Torbay told how support from local services had helped them become clear of the drug after many years of use.

Analysis of the data by addiction treatment experts UKAT shows that the South West has seen a 25 per cent  rise in drug poisoning deaths in the last five years.

During that period the region lost millions of pounds of funding for drug and alcohol treatment.

UKAT managing director Eytan Alexander said: “These ONS figures are saddening but unsurprising.

“We’ve highlighted the drastic reduction in budget cuts to substance misuse services every year since 2013 and unfortunately, these figures now show the impact this is having on the most vulnerable people living across the South West.

“It cannot be coincidence that as councils here slash drug and alcohol treatment budgets by £6 million over 6 years, the highest number of people on record lose their lives to drugs.

“We urge councils across the South West to invest in effective drug and alcohol services next year to avoid more loss of life.

“We must remember that these aren’t just numbers; they’re someone’s mother, father, child or friend and we can’t stress enough the value of investing in addiction treatment.”

Nationally, rising numbers of deaths have been linked to heroin and morphine, but there have also been increases in deaths due to cocaine, ecstasy, ‘legal highs’ and prescription drugs.

Across England and Wales, there were 4,359 deaths due to drug poisoning in 2018, up from 3,756 in 2017. Two-thirds of the deaths (2,917) were due to drug misuse.

The drug and alcohol charity Addaction is calling for better treatment in the community including investment in outreach services to go to the people in need, support and medication for opiate users, and better access to overdose reversal drug Naloxone.

Chief executive Mike Dixon said: “We knew many of those who died and we remember them.

“The vast majority of these deaths are preventable.

“We already know what makes a difference to people who are struggling in the deepest end of life.”

In response to the latest drug death statistics, a Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman told the BBC that drug misuse was at similar levels to a decade ago, but added: “We are absolutely committed to reducing it and the harms it causes.”

She said the Government had set up an independent review of support and enforcement.