Drug Related Deaths in the North East Tom Le Ruez Tees Preventing - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Drug Related Deaths in the North East Tom Le Ruez Tees Preventing Drug Related Deaths Co-ordinator

Outline of presentation • North East drug related deaths key themes • Current or emerging trends • Projects on-going in the north east • Summary 2

Drug related deaths and the North East

North East Drug Related Deaths • Population of north east is roughly 2.7 million (ONS, 2019). • Highest prevalence of drug users in England given size of population (PHE, 2019). • Hartlepool, Middlesbrough have highest rates of drug deaths in the region, and some of highest on local level in England and Wales (ONS, 2019). 4 (Image sourced from Newcastle University, 2019)

120.0 100.0 80.0 Rate of DRD 60.0 North East North West 40.0 London 20.0 0.0 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Source: ONS, 2019 Year 5

500 450 400 350 Number of DRDs 300 250 North East 200 North West London 150 100 50 0 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Source: ONS, 2019 Year 6

Results from the ‘deep dive’ into DRD inquests ‘Mixed – toxicity’ Single Opioid detected Living Alone ‘Tablets’ detected Found unresponsive in home Two thirds are male Unemployed Majority aged 30 - 49 Mental health diagnosis Born in 70’s or 80’s Previous trauma Arrested/ prison sentence Smoker/COPD/Asthma 7

Why such a sharp increase in the north east? • Rise in multi-drug use? • Purity/price? Service cuts? • Changing drug market? Socio-economic factors? Female deaths?... Ageing cohort?... Deteriorating physical health?... 8

Recent trends in the North East: Comparing data from 2015/16 to 2018/19

60.0% Increases in drugs detected post-mortem 50.0% Percentage cocaine featured in deaths 40.0% 30.0% Cocaine 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 2015-16 2018-19 Year 10

40.0% Increases in drugs detected post-mortem 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% Diazepam ‘Exotic’ Benzo’s Alprazolam and Etizolam 15.0% 10.0% Reduction in Diazepam (Valium) ‘blues’ Increase in Alprazolam (Xanax) 5.0% …but also Etizolam 0.0% 2015-16 2018-19 11

Increases in drugs detected post-mortem Other meds or ‘tablets’ Detections with heroin have Pregabalin and Gabapentin also increased, but to lesser extent. Zopiclone Methadone and alcohol detections …Emergence of Promethazine? stable 12

Rise in ‘multi-drug’ use? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 2015/16 (122 cases) ‘Multi-drug’ use 2018/19 (63 cases) 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1-2 drugs 3+ drugs 5+ drugs 7+ drugs 13

Projects in the North East

Peer naloxone Heroin Assisted Treatment Injectable methadone pilot Suicide cocaine task group Drug analysis project Prison release task group 15

Summary

Summary • Drug deaths have risen significantly over the past 10 years in the North East • Changes in drugs appearing post-mortem and multiple-use more frequent  matches similar profile to Scotland • A number of projects being set up… 17

Thank you for listening Tom Le Ruez @tomleruez Tees Preventing Drug Related Deaths Co-ordinator