The Office for National Statistics have published new figures on drug-related deaths in England and Wales for 2021, revealing another increase in drug-related deaths.

According to the report, 4,859 people died from drug poisoning in 2021. Drug related deaths have risen by 85th since 2012; this marks the ninth consecutive year of drug related deaths rising.

Around half the deaths involved opiates (2,219), with cocaine related deaths rising by over 8%.

“Measures which have reversed drug related deaths in other parts of the world need to be considered as a way to stop people dying and promote harm reduction. Overdose Prevention Centres, of which there are over 200 in many countries across the world including Switzerland, Germany and the USA are an undoubtedly proven way of doing just this.”

Overdose Prevention Centres are named as being a critical way of reducing thousands of avoidable drug-related deaths. Unified public services, community-based interventions, outreach programs and drug support services were also named as methods which require more funding.

Read the full article here.