Mortality Rates From Drug Misuse Are Significantly Higher In Wales

Figures published today by the Office for National Statistics show Wales had the highest death rate from drugs misuse in 2012- across England and Wales.

There were 131 deaths registered deaths in Wales last year as a result of drugs misuse, 46 for every 1 million people, compared with 137 in 2011 and 152 in 2010.

In England and Wales there were 1,706 male deaths from drug poisoning in 2012, a decrease of 4% since 2011, and the lowest since 1995.

The equivalent number of female deaths rose to 891, an increase of 1% since 2011, and the highest since 2004.

Age wise the highest mortality rate from drug misuse was in 30 to 39-year-olds which is consistent with previous years.

Deaths involving heroin/morphine decreased in 2012, but deaths involving another opiate – tramadol – have continued to rise.

There were 175 deaths involving tramadol in 2012 – more than double the number recorded in 2008 (83 deaths).

In addition, deaths involving new psychoactive substances or ‘legal highs’ such as mephedrone have increased sharply in the last year from 29 deaths in 2011 to 52 deaths in 2012.

But the number of deaths from new psychoactive substances are still much lower than the number of deaths from heroin/morphine.