Official statistics suggest that more than 2,300 people in England and Wales died in 1998 from accidental or intentional overdoses of drugs, and the numbers are rising. A young person who is injecting heroin has about a 14 times higher risk of death than someone who is not. The rates are similar in Scotland. This report focuses on the prevention of deaths from the misuse of controlled drugs, but volatile substance abuse (VSA) is also considered. The aim of the report is provide a...
More DescriptionOfficial statistics suggest that more than 2,300 people in England and Wales died in 1998 from accidental or intentional overdoses of drugs, and the numbers are rising. A young person who is injecting heroin has about a 14 times higher risk of death than someone who is not. The rates are similar in Scotland. This report focuses on the prevention of deaths from the misuse of controlled drugs, but volatile substance abuse (VSA) is also considered. The aim of the report is provide a catalyst for action, both in reducing drug-related fatalities and improving the means of monitoring the scale of these deaths.