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Written question asked by Baroness Debbonaire (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 January 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 January 2020. It was answered by Jo Churchill (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Heroin: Death

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the trends in the level of heroin-related deaths in (a) the UK and (b) Bristol.

Answer

Spending on health care, including drug treatment services is a devolved matter. In England, local authorities are responsible for the commissioning and uptake of drug treatment services. They are funded to do so through the public health grant. In 2019-20, £3.1 billion has been provided for public health services, including drug treatment.

Any death related to drug use is an avoidable tragedy. Heroin-related deaths are rising across the United Kingdom, including in Bristol. This increase is linked to an ageing group of older heroin users with multiple and complex needs and in increasingly poor health. Half of opiate-related deaths occur among those who have never – or have not for several years – been in drug treatment.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
3785
Session
2019-21
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Death Heroin
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk