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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/01/crack-cocaine-problems-england-rise-public-health
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| Number of people treated for crack cocaine problems rises 44% in two years | Number of people treated for crack cocaine problems rises 44% in two years |
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| The number of people being treated for problems related to crack cocaine use in England has increased by 44% in two years, official figures show. | The number of people being treated for problems related to crack cocaine use in England has increased by 44% in two years, official figures show. |
| There was also a small (3%) increase in people entering treatment for both crack cocaine and opiate use, statistics released by Public Health England (PHE) reveal. The rise was seen primarily in those aged 35 and over. | There was also a small (3%) increase in people entering treatment for both crack cocaine and opiate use, statistics released by Public Health England (PHE) reveal. The rise was seen primarily in those aged 35 and over. |
| PHE said it was likely the increase in the number of people entering treatment for crack problems reflected a rise in the use of the drug. This may be caused by changes in the purity and affordability of crack cocaine and patterns of distribution over the last few years. | PHE said it was likely the increase in the number of people entering treatment for crack problems reflected a rise in the use of the drug. This may be caused by changes in the purity and affordability of crack cocaine and patterns of distribution over the last few years. |
| PHE said the latest published estimates of crack cocaine use in England (from 2014-15) reported a 10% increase in the numbers of people estimated to be using the substance since 2010-11 (166,640 to 182,828). | PHE said the latest published estimates of crack cocaine use in England (from 2014-15) reported a 10% increase in the numbers of people estimated to be using the substance since 2010-11 (166,640 to 182,828). |
| The rise in the number of people being treated for crack cocaine problems – 18% since last year (3,657 to 4,301) and 44% since the year before that (2,980 to 4,301) – was seen in all age groups except 65 years and over. | |
| The figures released on Thursday come from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and relate to adults receiving help in England for problems with drugs and alcohol in the period 2017-18. | The figures released on Thursday come from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and relate to adults receiving help in England for problems with drugs and alcohol in the period 2017-18. |
| They show there were 268,390 adults in contact with drug and alcohol services in 2017-18, a 4% reduction from the previous year (279,793). | |
| The number of people receiving treatment for alcohol alone decreased the most, falling by 6% (80,454 to 75,787) on last year, and by 17% from the peak of 91,651 in 2013-14. | The number of people receiving treatment for alcohol alone decreased the most, falling by 6% (80,454 to 75,787) on last year, and by 17% from the peak of 91,651 in 2013-14. |
| People in treatment for opiate (usually heroin) dependence made up the largest proportion of the total numbers in treatment (53% or 141,189), also a fall of 4% since the previous year. | People in treatment for opiate (usually heroin) dependence made up the largest proportion of the total numbers in treatment (53% or 141,189), also a fall of 4% since the previous year. |
| The statistics also reveal there were 1,223 people who had problems with new psychoactive substances (NPS) starting treatment in 2017-18, a 16% decrease on the previous year, and a 40% drop on the year before that. This fall was mainly driven by a 36% reduction in under-25s entering treatment for NPS problems. | The statistics also reveal there were 1,223 people who had problems with new psychoactive substances (NPS) starting treatment in 2017-18, a 16% decrease on the previous year, and a 40% drop on the year before that. This fall was mainly driven by a 36% reduction in under-25s entering treatment for NPS problems. |
| People who are in treatment for NPS problems were more likely to be homeless (25%), compared with those not using these substances at the start of treatment (8%). | |
| There was also a 7% fall in the number of people entering treatment for ecstasy problems in 2017-18 (1,013 to 939), with a much larger decrease of 53% recorded in the number starting treatment for problematic mephedrone use. | There was also a 7% fall in the number of people entering treatment for ecstasy problems in 2017-18 (1,013 to 939), with a much larger decrease of 53% recorded in the number starting treatment for problematic mephedrone use. |
| Information on whether a person starting treatment has a mental health need has also been introduced into the report for the first time this year, and showed 52,397 people (41% of those who reported their mental health status) said they had a mental health treatment need. | Information on whether a person starting treatment has a mental health need has also been introduced into the report for the first time this year, and showed 52,397 people (41% of those who reported their mental health status) said they had a mental health treatment need. |
| This was most common in the non-opiate and alcohol group (47%) while opiate users had the lowest proportion (39%). | This was most common in the non-opiate and alcohol group (47%) while opiate users had the lowest proportion (39%). |
| Three-quarters of the people reporting a mental health treatment need (74% or 38,646) also said that they were currently receiving treatment for their mental health. | Three-quarters of the people reporting a mental health treatment need (74% or 38,646) also said that they were currently receiving treatment for their mental health. |
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