Drug deaths soar to record high in West Midlands

Across the region 242 people died in 2016 as a result of abusing drugs, an increase of 71.63 per cent on 2012 when 141 drug users died.

It comes as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a record 3,744 deaths involving legal and illegal drugs were recorded in 2016, the highest number since comparable records began in 1993.

Of those 2,593 (69 per cent) were classed as drug misuse deaths, with the highest rate coming in the 40 to 49 age category.

Most misuse deaths were accidental, the ONS said, while others were a result of suicide or mental and behavioural disorders caused by drugs.

The ONS figures show that in the West Midlands 20 more people died last year from drug misuse than in 2015.

The highest figure ever recorded in the region was 245 deaths in 2014.

The figures show that nationally there were 371 deaths involving cocaine - a rise of 16 per cent on the 2015 figure.

The ONS report cited a warning from the National Crime Agency that there was a 'significant increase' in both crack and powder cocaine purity in 2016, including at user-level.

This 'may partly explain the increase in deaths relating to cocaine', the paper added.

In contrast to cocaine, deaths linked to heroin and/or morphine remained stable last year - with 1,209 compared with 1,201 registered in 2015.

The figures have prompted criticism of the Government's drugs policy.

Martin Powell, of the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, described the Home Office's approach as 'scandalous'.

"The Government must accept responsibility for record numbers of people dying from overdoses year after year," he said.

"Other countries value the lives of vulnerable people who use drugs enough to implement and fund many measures proven to save lives, like decriminalising drug users, safer drug consumption rooms and prescribing heroin."

Rosanna O'Connor, of Public Health England, said: "It is tragic that we are still seeing an increase in people dying from drug misuse.

"Many of these deaths can be explained as the 'Trainspotting' generation, often with poor physical and mental health, sadly losing their battle with long-term addiction to drugs."

The highest mortality rate from drug misuse was in the North East with 77.4 deaths per one million population, while the lowest rate was in the East Midlands with 29.1 deaths per one million population. The West Midlands rate was 43.8.