The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released figures on Wednesday showing that drug-related deaths in England and Wales have reached a record high, partly fueled by an increase in the use of cocaine. The researchers found that in 2021 there were 4,859 deaths related to drug poisoning – a rate of 84.4 deaths per million people. This marks the ninth consecutive annual increase, up 6.2 percent from the previous year. It’s also the highest number since records began in 1993, more than a quarter of a century ago
‘Significant’ increase in drug deaths
The figures come as the government was accused by one of its drug advisers of ignoring the growing number of heroin addicts dying of overdoses.
However, the ONS also found that 840 cocaine-related deaths were recorded in 2021, which was 8.1 per cent higher than the previous year (777 deaths) and more than seven times higher than 2011 (112 deaths).
In 2021, men accounted for 76.8 percent of cocaine-related deaths—645 men compared to 195 women. Cocaine has consistently been the second most used drug, after cannabis, in England and Wales over the past decade.
Experts said the overall upward trend over the past decade was largely driven by opiate-related deaths. However, there have also been “significant” increases in deaths involving other substances such as cocaine and “street Valium” over the past 12 months.
Statisticians have claimed that the rising number of cocaine-related deaths is likely to be a direct consequence of its increasing use, fueled by what experts claim is the drug’s growing popularity among the middle classes.
Clinicians from the Priory, a UK mental health and addictions service, suggested they had seen an increase in middle-class people and home workers seeking help for cocaine addiction.
A spokesman said inquiries into cocaine addiction were up 58 per cent compared to 12 months ago.
“More opportunities” to take drugs
Dr Niall Campbell, a consultant psychiatrist at Priory’s Roehampton Hospital in London, said the increase in working from home had given people more opportunities to take drugs such as cocaine.
“Without the need to go to the office or attend meetings in person, people prone to cocaine and other addictions find more opportunities to continue them,” he said.
“It was not easy for people to suddenly spend a lot of time at home and the effect on personal relationships was severe. Zoom and Teams are no substitute for face-to-face contact.”
He told MailOnline: ‘People used to use cocaine on the weekends, recreationally, but now it has moved into everyday use. As anything becomes cheaper and more available, it is used by more and more people. It’s become more normalized.”
Drug charities have issued multiple warnings to heroin users of increased risk after a number of deaths were reported across the country. Batches of Class A drugs are suspected of being mixed with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
Asked if anyone was concerned about the rising number of heroin-related deaths, Dr Emily Finch, a senior fellow at the Royal College of Psychiatrists who sits on the government’s drug misuse advisory board, told Sky News: “I think it’s a No I think, in general, the general population does.
“I think a lot of people, and maybe that’s reflected in the government, don’t really care and that’s why they’ve allowed a treatment system to atrophy to a great extent.”
A government spokesman said: “Our landmark drugs strategy will help rebuild drug treatment and recovery services to better support people through recovery, as well as tackle the criminal supply chains that fuel illicit drug markets.”
