DRUG-related deaths in the North-East have reached their highest ever level and are the highest in England and Wales.

In 2018, the rate of drug use in the North-East was “significantly” higher than any other English region, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, more than doubling in the last decade to 96.3 deaths per million people.

Between 2016 and 2018 a total of 903 deaths were recorded in the North-East, while 106 were recorded in North Yorkshire.

County Durham accounts for the largest share of drug poisoning deaths, with 153 between 2016 and 2018, up almost ten per cent in five years.

Meanwhile, deaths in Redcar and Cleveland have almost doubled in five years, from 24 to 46, while nationally, Middlesbrough had one of the highest rates of death.

At the same time, millions of pounds have been cut from local authority’s budgets for drug and alcohol treatment services.

Ron Hogg, Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner, was among those to call for more investment.

Mr Hogg, who wants the Government to carry of a “fundamental review” of current UK drug policy, said: “I am really saddened to see the new figures released. Again these highlight the human cost of a drug policy that isn’t working. Drug users should be able to seek medical treatment without fear of being criminalised.

“More investment is needed for services to support people to recover from drug addiction. Cutting funding for treatment services creates a false economy, because the cost of people remaining addicted to drugs falls elsewhere on public services.”

Durham County Council said it had continued to invest in its drug and alcohol recovery service and had funded an increase in naloxone provision, a drug used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose, for Durham Police.

Durham’s director of public health Amanda Healy said: “It’s important to note that our age-standardised mortality rates for drugs deaths are below the North-East average. But, any death is one too many and we are committed to helping people getting the support they need.”

According to a Freedom of Information request carried out by UKAT, a private rehabilitation service, more than £8m had been cut from local authority’s budgets for drug and alcohol treatment services in the North-East.

Managing director Eytan Alexander, said: “We urge councils across the North-East to invest in effective drug and alcohol services next year to avoid more loss of life.”

The ONS revealed drug deaths in England and Wales have reached the highest number and highest annual increase since records began back in 1993.

Mike Dixon, of the charity Addaction, which has centres in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, said: “It’s a very tough day for families and those of us who work in drug treatment. We knew many of those who died and we remember them. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable.”