Drug-Related Deaths

EDM number 479 in 2015-16, proposed by Louise Haigh on 17/09/2015.
Categorised under the topics of Death and Drugs misuse.

That this House is concerned that drug-related deaths have reached the highest level on record; notes that a National Records of Scotland report, published in August 2015, revealed that 613 people died as a result of drugs in 2014; further notes that the Office for National Statistics reported that there were 3,346 drug poisoning deaths registered in England and Wales in 2014, of which 2,248, or 67 per cent, involved illegal drugs, and the mortality rate reached 39.9 deaths per million population; recognises that in England there was a 17 per cent rise in the drug misuse mortality rate while in Wales, where a Naloxone programme has been implemented, the rate fell by 16 per cent; is further concerned that the Government's reduction of the Public Health Grant by £200 million and decisions by health and wellbeing boards to de-prioritise drug treatment spending will exacerbate the situation; reminds the Government that its drug strategy highlights the prevention of drug-related deaths as one of its key outcomes; and calls on the Government to conduct an urgent review of its strategy, in consultation with drug treatment commissioners, providers and users, to prevent any further rise in drug deaths.

This motion has been signed by a total of 12 MPs.