Public Health England recently published a report highlighting the statistics on the availability and effectiveness of alcohol and drug treatment in England and the profile of adults accessing this treatment for April 2018 to March 2019. The data for the report were derived from the analysis of the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System.
Key findings from the report are as follows:
- Between April 2018 and March 2019, 268,251 adults contacted drug and alcohol services, similar to that in the previous year (268,390).
- The number of individuals starting treatment for opiates and alcohol alone in 2018-2019 remained stable compared with the previous year. There has been a continued increase in those starting treatment for crack cocaine problems.
- There was an 11 per cent rise in the number of individuals entering treatment in 2018-2019 for issues with new psychoactive substances.
- Nineteen per cent of individuals entering treatment last year reported having a housing problem. Fifty-three per cent of adults reported the need for a mental health treatment.
- A total of 118,995 individuals exited the services in 2018-2019. Forty-eight per cent of them exited after successfully completing the treatment.
- The mortality rate for individuals while in contact with treatment services in 2018-2019 was 1.1 per cent.
- While an increase in mortality was observed for individuals in treatment across all substance groups, it was primarily driven by those being treated for problems with opiates.
- In 2018, the mortality from drug misuse in England increased by 16 per cent, reaching the highest level ever.
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