Record number of drug-related deaths in County Durham last year

New figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal there were 87 deaths in relation to drug poisoning last year, up 24 per cent on the year before. 

More strikingly, the number of deaths are almost double compared to ten years ago - a 93 per cent increase from 45 - and far from the first recorded figure of 16 in 1993. 

However, Durham County Council noted how drug misuse rate in County Durham is currently 15.2 per 100,000 - lower than the average of 15.8 for the North East.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said the force is “doing a lot” in relation to tackling the issue alongside drug-related criminality - but added that there is “always more to do”. 

Meanwhile, Amanda Healy, the council’s director of public health, said it remained a "high priority" and that it was working hard through several initiatives.

County Durham was only beaten in the North East by Tyne and Wear, which had a total of 157 deaths, while the likes of Middlesbrough had 47, Stockton 39, and Darlington 17. 

The North East had a total of 429 deaths last year, slightly down on 441 in 2023, the third lowest area in the country, above the East (421) and Wales (417). 

'Any death is too many'

PCC Allen said: “The loss of life due to drug dependency is shocking and, with appropriate treatment programmes, avoidable. 

“Durham Constabulary was one of the first forces in the country to provide naloxone kits to its officers. (Naloxone is a medication that temporarily reverses the effect of an overdose from heroin and other opiates or opioids.) 

"More than 400 officers have been trained to administer the drug and it has proved its value, having been used successfully on around 50 occasions.

“However, I believe in preparation and thinking of worst-case scenarios.  

"That’s why I think more people should be trained to administer this antidote. I have been trained in its use, as have my office team and my Community Peer Mentor team. 

"I want to see more of those in frontline roles trained and carrying naloxone kits.

“I also support testing on arrest, whereby people are routinely tested for illegal drugs when they are taken into custody.  

"This provides the opportunity to refer those testing positive into treatment, in turn deterring reoffending and decreasing demand on the justice system and health services.

“As one of the national leads for addictions and substance misuse on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, I strongly believe that we need to highlight the potential dangers of buying prescription drugs online: there is a growing risk that they are not what they purport to be.

“And, amongst many other projects, I am calling on the Government to invest more funding in Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine (LAIB) which has already proven itself to be an effective way of helping people to rehabilitate.  

“Disappointingly, its use in England to treat opioid dependency is significantly lower than in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, yet the results speak for themselves.

“We are doing a lot, but there is always more to do. If we can cut drug-related criminality, we will reduce demand on the police, the health service, the entire criminal justice system and social services.  This is what the taxpayer expects and deserves.”

Ms Healy added: “Tackling drug-related deaths is a high priority for us, and we are working hard through several initiatives to ensure we are supporting communities in resisting drug misuse.

“These figures do not take into account variations in population and population structures. When considering these deaths as a rate, such as per 100,000 people, we are lower than other local authority areas.

"The drug misuse rate in County Durham is currently 15.2 per 100,000 compared to an average of 15.8 for the whole of the North East.

"Any death is too many, however, and we are committed to helping people get the support they need. Through the newly formed Combatting Drugs and Alcohol Partnership (CDAP) we, along with our partners, strive to ensure safer and healthier communities. 

“This has included the expansion of our Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service, the development of a monitoring system that enables the police and other partners to increase drug testing capacity, broadening the medication available for those people using our services and increasing the accessibility of medication that can reverse the effects of heroin overdose.

 “Over the past year, partners have continued to make progress delivering the priorities of the CDAP and meaningful strides have been made to reduce the harm associated with drugs and alcohol.”