Deaths from drug misuse

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Drug misuse is a serious problem affecting individuals, their families, and communities. It has a huge societal cost of £9.3 billion per year, with most of it (86%) spent on healthcare and crime-related expenses due to heroin and crack cocaine use. Drug-related deaths are at a record high, with heroin fatalities having doubled since 2012. The report also highlights that the of death from the use cocaine and crack cocaine having risen fivefold [1] 

Since 2014 to 2016, the rate of deaths from drug misuse in Waltham Forest showed a sharp decrease and reached 2 deaths per 100,000 population in 2018 to 2020. The Waltham Forest 2018 to 2020 figure is below the national (5 per 100,000) and the regional (3.5 per 100,000) averages. 

Source: OHID Public Health Outcomes Framework. Data from Office for National Statistics. Date accessed: 7 July 2023. 

References: 

[1] Black, Dame C. (2020) Review of Drugs - evidence relating to drug use, supply and effects, including current trends and future risks. Date accessed 30 May 2023