EIGHT drug-related deaths were recorded in South Lakeland last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. 

Six of these deaths were due to misuse, which involved illegal drugs, or were a result of drug abuse or dependence. This is in line with previous years in the region.

They were among 4,859 drug poisoning deaths registered across England and Wales last year – the ninth consecutive rise and the highest number since records began more than a quarter of a century ago in 1993.

Niamh Eastwood, executive director of Release, the national centre for drugs expertise, said every drug-related death is avoidable.

“It is an utter disgrace that we are again talking about record breaking drug deaths," she added.

"Drug deaths are a public health emergency across the UK that can and must be adequately addressed. Government inaction is a political choice."

Around half of the deaths registered nationally in 2021 will have occurred in previous years due to death registration delays, the ONS said.

Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Peter McCall differentiated between demand and supply of drugs as being two separate issues.

He said that demand was being tackled effectively by organisations such as The Well and CADAS, and was not a police matter.

"The bad thing is that often these drug-related deaths are not young people but people that have been taking drugs for a long time and their bodies cannot keep up with it any longer," he said.

"People can't continue to use these drugs and it not catch up with them.

"The main police battle is about stopping supply and this year we have had quite a lot of success in locking up drug dealers. It is a constant battle."

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Just under half of the drug deaths registered across England and Wales last year involved an opiate.

A UK Government spokesman said its drug strategy will help rebuild drug treatment services and tackle criminal supply chains.

He added: “This will help to prevent nearly 1,000 deaths, deliver over 54,500 new treatment places – a 19% increase on current numbers – and support 24,000 more people into recovery from substance dependency.

“This funding is additional to the annual public health grant spend and builds on the £80 million put into treatment services in 2021 which worked to decrease drug-related deaths by helping services distribute more naloxone, which can help reverse opiate overdoses.”