BARROW saw a record number of drug-related deaths last year, figures show.

Office for National Statistics figures show there were 17 drug-related deaths recorded in Barrow in 2020. This was up from eight the year before - and the highest figure since records began in 1993.

The deaths relate to poisoning from a variety of illegal and legal drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines. The figures count deaths from drug abuse but also include those from accidents, suicides, and health complications arising from drug use.

In Barrow, 13 deaths last year were down to misuse, meaning they involved illegal drugs, or were a result of drug abuse or dependence – also a record figure.

David Higham, founder of The Well Communities, which supports people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, said: “They are really sad and shocking figures which are in line with the statistics of drug related deaths across the North.

“I think you might have to take into account the pandemic and how it has affected people and their mental health. Addiction is not because people are living life beyond their wildest dreams, people use substances because they can’t function like everyone else and they need something else to escape how life impacts them.

“I think there has been a large amounts of cuts that have affected the recovery field right across the country, not just Cumbria,"

A Government review led by Dame Carol Black said £1.7billion is needed to be invested back in drug treatment.

The rates of drug related deaths in the most deprived areas of England were around five-and-a-half times higher than those in the least deprived parts.

"It’s being recognised on a national scale how the substance misuse field is being run on a shoe string," said Mr Higham,

“I think in all deprived areas, addiction will have an impact.

"In poverty people are anxious and stressed due to the lack of income. If you look in deprived areas, you only need to count how many Bargain Boozes and betting shops there are compared to affluent areas.

"People will seek these avenues because of the situation that they were born in or found themselves in through no fault of their own.”

The Government said it would set up a new drugs unit to help end illegal drug-related illness and deaths.

A spokesman said: “We are already investing £148 million to tackle the root causes of drug misuse, including £80 million for treatment and recovery – the largest investment in the drug treatment system for 15 years.”