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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Female drug deaths 'rise by 17%' | Female drug deaths 'rise by 17%' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The number of women dying drug-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 17% in 2008 to 853, according to the Office for National Statistics. | The number of women dying drug-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 17% in 2008 to 853, according to the Office for National Statistics. |
| The number of male deaths also rose 8% compared with 2007 to 2,075 - the highest total since 2001. | The number of male deaths also rose 8% compared with 2007 to 2,075 - the highest total since 2001. |
| The figures, which include legal and illegal drugs, also show cocaine caused 235 deaths in 2008 - up 20% from 2007. | |
| The government said it had invested more in treatment programmes, but the Lib Dems called the rises "horrifying". | |
| The ONS figures cover accidents and suicides involving drug poisoning, as well as deaths due to drug abuse and dependence. | The ONS figures cover accidents and suicides involving drug poisoning, as well as deaths due to drug abuse and dependence. |
| They do not include other adverse effects of drugs, like allergic reactions or poisoning with non-medicinal substances, such as household, agricultural or industrial chemicals. | They do not include other adverse effects of drugs, like allergic reactions or poisoning with non-medicinal substances, such as household, agricultural or industrial chemicals. |
| Anti-depressants | Anti-depressants |
| The figures show there were 897 deaths involving heroin or morphine in 2008. That was an increase of 8% from 2007 and the highest number since 2001. | The figures show there were 897 deaths involving heroin or morphine in 2008. That was an increase of 8% from 2007 and the highest number since 2001. |
| Anti-depressants were responsible for a further 381 deaths in 2008, up from 335 in 2007. | Anti-depressants were responsible for a further 381 deaths in 2008, up from 335 in 2007. |
| The government's punitive policies and heavy-handed rhetoric on drugs are failing Norman Lamb, Lib Dems | The government's punitive policies and heavy-handed rhetoric on drugs are failing Norman Lamb, Lib Dems |
| But over the whole period of 2004 to 2008 deaths from anti-depressants actually fell by 19%. | But over the whole period of 2004 to 2008 deaths from anti-depressants actually fell by 19%. |
| Deaths from drug misuse - involving illegal substances, abuse or dependence - rose to 1,738 in 2008, the highest level recorded since 2001. | Deaths from drug misuse - involving illegal substances, abuse or dependence - rose to 1,738 in 2008, the highest level recorded since 2001. |
| Most deaths from misuse were among men aged 30-39. The increase in total female deaths came after several years of decline from 2005 to 2007. | Most deaths from misuse were among men aged 30-39. The increase in total female deaths came after several years of decline from 2005 to 2007. |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said the government must urgently rethink its strategy on drugs. | Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said the government must urgently rethink its strategy on drugs. |
| "These are horrifying statistics. The toll of damage from drugs is immense and the cost to the NHS is enormous," he said. | "These are horrifying statistics. The toll of damage from drugs is immense and the cost to the NHS is enormous," he said. |
| "The government's punitive policies and heavy-handed rhetoric on drugs are failing. | "The government's punitive policies and heavy-handed rhetoric on drugs are failing. |
| "Ministers must make sure that schools and public services work together to make sure that the message gets out that drugs kill." | "Ministers must make sure that schools and public services work together to make sure that the message gets out that drugs kill." |
| But a Department of Health spokesman defended the government's actions. | |
| "These findings underline that any kind of drug abuse can harm," he said. | |
| "No death is acceptable and that is why we have significantly increased investment in treatment programmes and support for those who are drug dependant or at risk of self harm." | |
| Fall in price | |
| According to a recent United Nations' report, the UK has more than a million cocaine users - more than any other European country. | |
| And Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said the figures showing a rise in cocaine-related deaths were "extremely concerning". | |
| These figures are the worst symptom of a broader problem of addiction that is blighting many communities Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling | |
| "Every drug-related death is a tragedy and many could have been avoided," he said. | |
| "The steady rise in deaths linked with cocaine use underlines the drug's harms at a time when use of the drug is again increasing, particularly among 16 to 24-year-olds. | |
| "The fall in the price of the drug and evidence of its increased availability may be reasons for this increase." | |
| Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "These figures are alarming in their own right, but they are the worst symptom of a broader problem of addiction that is blighting many communities, and particularly our most deprived areas." | |
| On Tuesday, Mr Grayling compared parts of the UK to the drug-blighted American city of Baltimore as depicted in the television series The Wire. |