Wrexham, Wales — A troubling increase in opioid-related fatalities in Wales underscores an ongoing public health crisis, according to the latest data from Public Health Wales. Opioids were the deadliest substance in Wales for the 2022-23 period, contributing to 125 deaths, with heroin or morphine implicated in over half of these cases.
The stark figures draw attention to the persistent drug problem that has seen a new flux in cocaine-related fatalities as well, marking a significant 26% of all drug misuse deaths. Meanwhile, overdose reversal medication naloxone has been credited with mitigating the death toll. Public Health Wales reported that the use of naloxone in emergencies rose last year, evidencing community efforts to combat overdose incidences.
Local authorities distributed more than 6,000 take-home naloxone kits in the 2022-23 period, a move that aligns with broader efforts to equip citizens against opioid poisoning. The provision of naloxone has steadily increased since its first introduction in 2009, indicating a strategic shift toward preventive measures.
Cocaine-related deaths have escalated for the third consecutive year, showing a troubling trend of increasing usage and fatalities. These figures suggest a diversification in the drug crisis beyond opioids into more widespread cocaine use, which also saw an uptick in hospitalisations and treatments for abuse.
The demographic most affected by drug misuse deaths are individuals over 50, accounting for 25% of all drug-related fatalities last year. Young people under the age of 25 also remain vulnerably impacted, with 13 reported deaths in the same period.
Wales has historically reported higher rates of drug misuse deaths compared to England. The rate stood at 71 per million population in 2022, noticeably higher than the 53 per million in England, highlighting a persistent challenge in addressing substance misuse locally.
Social deprivation appears to play a critical role, with drug misuse deaths over five times higher in Wales’s most deprived areas compared to the least. Swansea and Neath Port Talbot were identified as having the highest rates of drug-related mortalities in 2022, starkly contrasting with the lower rates observed in Monmouthshire, Flintshire, and Carmarthenshire.
Rick Lines, Head of the Substance Misuse Programme at Public Health Wales, expressed that the number of drug-related deaths remains profoundly concerning. “These deaths are tragic and preventable,” Lines stated, emphasizing the toll such losses take on families and communities. He also conveyed optimism about the increased use of naloxone as a significant step toward saving lives.
Moreover, those in need of naloxone can obtain it through a free service provided by Dan 24/7, which delivers kits directly to addresses throughout Wales. Additionally, the Dan 24/7 helpline offers around-the-clock advice on drugs and alcohol, further supporting individuals seeking help.
The rising figures in drug misuse deaths and increased cocaine usage underscore a critical need for continued focus on health strategies and community support systems to tackle the evolving drug crisis in Wales.