Participants included Humankind, With You, Change Grow Live, Cranstoun, BDP, Barod, Kaleidoscope, the Scottish Drugs Forum, as well as representatives from the police, NHS providers, and public health. The conference aimed to facilitate the sharing of best practices and explore how these organisations can contribute to reducing drug-related deaths amidst evolving drug markets and the growing presence of synthetic opioids.
Drug poisoning deaths have reached their highest in the past 30 years
During the conference, OHID's Steve Taylor presented data from the ONS, which revealed that drug poisoning deaths have reached their highest level in the past 30 years, increasing for ten consecutive years. In 2022, a reported 4,907 people in England and Wales died from drug poisoning, with nearly half of those deaths involving opiates. Notably, there were concentrated overdose deaths in specific regions and an uncommon involvement of nitazenes. The North East of England had the highest rate of drug poisoning deaths at 133.9 per million, while London had the lowest at 56.6 per million.
In response to these concerning figures, OHID has published an action plan that focuses on addressing five priority areas to reduce drug and alcohol deaths. These areas include improving treatment quality, expanding naloxone provision, enhancing toxicology and coroner reporting, fostering better information sharing, and reducing stigma in healthcare services.
The conference also featured presentations from the police and services supporting family members affected by drug use. One speaker, Pat Hudson, shared the tragic story of her son Kevin, who lost his life to a heroin overdose in 2017. Pat emphasised the importance of having Overdose Prevention Centres as a lifeline for those struggling with addiction. She believed that if such centres were available in their town, her son might still be alive today.
Jenny Scott from the University of Bristol called on attendees to raise their naloxone kits as a reminder of their crucial role in saving lives. She presented her work on co-designing solutions with drug users, resulting in a poster campaign and an app called Carry Naloxone, which informs people where they can obtain naloxone kits.
Chris Rintoul, head of harm reduction at Cranstoun, discussed additional measures that can be taken to reduce overdose deaths. Reflecting on Northern Ireland's resistance to a more abstinence-focused approach, which was adopted later than in England, he stressed the importance of making treatment more appealing to those who need it the most. Similarly, Daniel Ahmed, clinical director at Cranstoun and clinical partner at Foundations, presented the positive outcomes of the Middlesborough Diamorphine Assisted Treatment clinic, which saw significant reductions in criminality, street drug use, homelessness, and improvements in the wellbeing of its service users.
Deb Hussey, Turning Point's Safer Lives lead, expressed concern for the current circumstances in the substance use field. She emphasised the need to adapt and create services that genuinely meet the needs of individuals, rather than expecting individuals to fit into pre-established services. The powerful stories shared throughout the conference reinforced the idea that drug deaths are a concern that must be addressed collectively.
“The drugs we are seeing in the UK are changing and the way we work will need to change too. We need to make services that fit the people they are aimed at, not the other way round, and the conversations I had throughout the day fill me with hope.
“Although we don’t know what’s ahead, we will work together to meet the challenges to come. When Pat Hudson spoke about the death of her son Kevin, we were all poignantly reminded of why we had chosen to come together. Drug deaths are all of our business.
“Special thanks to our sponsors Ethypharm, who made this event possible.”
Engaging families to reduce drug related deaths
The Safer Lives 2023 Conference also explored the crucial role of families in reducing drug-related deaths. Representatives from Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and Alcohol (SFAD) highlighted the negative impact on an average of 11 family members when someone within the family has a drug or alcohol problem. They stressed the importance of supporting affected family members and engaging them in initiatives aimed at reducing drug-related deaths.
Additionally, Jan Larkin, Head of Psychology at Turning Point, introduced the Family 5-Step approach and its digital version, designed to provide support and information to affected family members anonymously.
The role of the police
On the topic of law enforcement, Chief Inspector Jason Meecham discussed the progress made with naloxone availability in Durham. The police force has expanded naloxone distribution to all officers, and they have also collaborated with local treatment providers, councils, and public health teams to provide naloxone kits to individuals using opiates upon release from custody.
Inspector Tom Gent, lead for naloxone with Avon and Somerset Police, explained how the implementation of naloxone across their five areas resulted in saving lives and fostering improved partnerships with drug treatment providers.
Looking ahead
As we move forward, it is crucial to heed the insights and lessons learned from this conference to shape policies, programs, and services that prioritise the wellbeing and safety of individuals affected by drug use. By working together, we can make a significant impact in reducing drug-related deaths.