LGA responds to latest drug misuse figures

8 Nov 2016 09:59 AM

Cllr Izzi Seccombe responds to latest figures that show the number of registered heroin deaths increased by 26 per cent between 2014 and 2015 and are now the highest on record.

"The continuing rise in drug-related deaths is a major concern to councils and our health partners. Councils are committed to ensuring drug users get the right support and treatment, and spend more on drug and alcohol treatment than in any other area of public health. This year alone, local authorities will plough £760 million into tackling substance misuse. However, with public health grants for local authorities being cut by 9 per cent over the next four years, including an in-year cut of £200 million in 2015/16, no service is immune from spending reductions, which could seriously undermine our efforts to prevent all kinds of major health conditions."

Notes 

Latest figures are adult statistics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System