A landmark report released today has for the first time revealed the extent of drug and alcohol addiction across the UK.
The report finds that addiction rates remain stubbornly high compared to the global average, and that services are struggling to keep up with rapidly changing drug types and distribution methods.
The report authors, The Forward Trust and Crest Advisory urge the next government to “reboot” drug policy with a genuine commitment to a public-health, preventative approach that saves lives and helps people to find recovery.
Overall, the report finds that an estimated 750,000 people in the UK are addicted to alcohol, 400,000 to illegal drugs, and 275,000 to gambling. This places the UK above the global average in terms of drug addiction.
Perhaps most strikingly it shows that the number of drug and alcohol-related deaths in the UK have hit record levels. Approximately 17,000 people are reported to have died from drug or alcohol related causes last year - though the actual figure is likely to be higher as drugs or alcohol are not always flagged in coroners’ reports.
The rising death rate is being driven by a number of factors including the growing supply of synthetic opioids that are much more potent than heroin, rising ketamine addiction rates amongst younger drug users, and the ever-increasing supply of drugs into the UK’s prisons.
In particular, the report points to new distribution methods - the use of county lines and drones to deliver drugs into prisons, for example - that are difficult for authorities to track and control.
The report finds that people with an addiction often struggle to get support - less than a quarter of those struggling with addiction are currently in contact with specialist services. And, while addiction affects all groups in society, deprived and minority communities have reduced access to help, with access to residential rehabilitation in particular often dependent on ability to pay.
The research also reveals that across England, Scotland, and Wales, drug and alcohol-related deaths are significantly higher amongst the most deprived communities. People experiencing homelessness also rarely get prolonged support because services are not designed to help people without a fixed address.
Mike Trace, CEO of The Forward Trust and author of the UK’s first National Drug Strategy, said:
“With change happening at the heart of government, we need a rethink and reboot when it comes to the UK’s approach to addiction. As our report highlights, addiction is a significant contributor to family and community disruption, as well as a driver of crime and health inequalities. Labour has yet to produce a comprehensive plan to tackle drug or alcohol addiction, and I call on the new Prime Minister to make this a priority.
“Addressing these problems is going to require the courage to think and act differently. We need to be proactive in removing the conditions that give rise to addiction. We need to be making it much easier for people to talk about addiction problems. And we need all our public health services to become addiction-recovery champions, pooling their knowledge and skills to treat the whole person in their journey towards recovery.”
Chair of The Forward Trust, former Arsenal and England football captain Tony Adams, said:
“I speak from experience. For most of my career as a professional footballer, I was addicted to alcohol. In 1996, following an almighty binge that started with England’s elimination from our home European Championships, I somehow found the determination, inspiration and support to get and stay sober. I haven’t touched alcohol in the last 30 years. I have lost many good people to alcohol and drugs, and I have had the privilege to witness and help thousands more to find recovery.
“This report aims to inform the national conversation on addiction. Please use the material in this report to support your own conversations – with friends and family, in the work place, and in local and national policy discussions.”
Beth Mooney, Head of Policy and Strategy at Crest Advisory and report co-author, said:
“Our report highlights the prevalence of addiction to alcohol and illegal drugs in the UK and the significant harm this can cause to individuals, families and communities. It is clear that patterns of addiction and demand for treatment continue to change - there has been a recent increase in demand for support with alcohol consumption and non-opiate drug use, for example. It is vital that the treatment sector is funded consistently to be able to respond to changing needs and ensure, ultimately, that treatment is available to and accessible by everyone who seeks it.”
View the report in full
Download 'Addiction in the UK' in full on The Forward Trust website
Statistics and findings from the report — infographics
