NHS Digital has published the latest statistics on drug misuse in England, pertaining to drug-related hospital admissions, deaths related to poisoning by drug misuse and prevalence of drug use.
Key findings from the report are as follows:
- A total of 7376 hospital admissions for mental and behavioural disorders were reported in 2018-2019. Although the figure is 14 per cent lower than that in 2015-2016, it is 30 per cent higher than that in 2008-2009.
- A total of 18,053 hospital admissions for poisoning by drug misuse were reported in 2018-2019. The figure is six per cent higher than that in 2017-2018 and 16 per cent higher than that in 2012-2013.
- The most deprived areas had a six-fold higher likelihood of admissions for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders and a five-fold higher likelihood of admissions for poisoning by drug misuse than the least deprived areas.
- The proportion of deaths related to poisoning by drug misuse in 2018 was 17 per cent higher than that in 2017 and 46 per cent higher than that in 2008.
- 9.4 per cent of adults aged 16-59 years had taken an illicit drug in the past year. This figure was 20.3 per cent if young adults aged 16-24 years were considered.
References
References
