Rising opioid-related deaths in England and Scotland must be recognised as a public health crisis

Abstract

In England and Scotland, the number of drug-related poisonings in 2017 was the highest ever recorded. 1 National Records of ScotlandDrug-related deaths in Scotland in 2017. https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland/2017Date: July 3, 2018 Date accessed: May 13, 2019 Google Scholar , 2 Office for National StatisticsDeaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2017 registrations. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/2017registrations#main-pointsDate: Aug 6, 2018 Date accessed: May 13, 2019 Google Scholar Opioid-related deaths are the biggest contributor to drug-related deaths, and have driven the recent increase in such deaths. In 2017, 815 opioid-related deaths were recorded in Scotland (double the number recorded in 2007) 1 National Records of ScotlandDrug-related deaths in Scotland in 2017. https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland/2017Date: July 3, 2018 Date accessed: May 13, 2019 Google Scholar and 1829 were recorded in England (a 40% increase since 2007; figure). 2 Office for National StatisticsDeaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2017 registrations. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/2017registrations#main-pointsDate: Aug 6, 2018 Date accessed: May 13, 2019 Google Scholar This marked increase in avoidable mortality must be recognised as a public health crisis. The UK Government must help end Scotland's drug-related death crisisJo Kimber and colleagues1 are right to call for the government to announce a public health crisis in response to a record number of drug-related poisonings in the UK. Recognising and responding to public health emergencies is a core responsibility of government. Full-Text PDF The fentanyl epidemic in Estonia: opportunities for a comprehensive public health responseJo Kimber and colleagues have announced a public health crisis in response to the record number of drug-related overdoses in Scotland, England, and Wales.1 Illicitly manufactured fentanyl emerged in Estonia in 2003, and, within a year, replaced heroin as the most common drug in the illicit drug market.2,3 Because of fentanyl use, Estonia had the highest mortality due to drug overdoses in Europe for 2007–17.2 Full-Text PDF