Oldham drugs admissions down

THE number of people being admitted to hospital in Oldham for drug-related problems is falling, new figures reveal.

According to information released yesterday by the NHS Information Centre, there were 62 admissions across Oldham Primary Care Trust where the main diagnosis was drug poisoning.

Another 38 cases were admitted for drug-related mental health and behavioural disorders.

This is down from 86 counts of drug poisoning the previous year, and 51 mental health related issues.

Oldham also recorded one of the lowest levels for both drug poisoning and mental health problems out of the 24 PCT areas in the North-West for 2006-7.

Debra Malone, associate director of public health at Oldham PCT said: “We are doing a lot work, as are others such as Oldham’s drug and alcohol team, to help people with drug-related health problems, including workforce training in substance misuse and mental health.

“We are always striving to keep on improving the support we provide.”

Yesterday’s report — Statistics on Drug Misuse — also revealed that last year 11 per cent of people across the North-West admitted to taking illegal drugs or glue sniffing.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “More people than ever before are getting into and staying in treatment.

“Drug-related deaths are down and the level of drug-fuelled crime has fallen substantially.

“The high-quality drug treatment that is being provided is the most effective way of reducing illegal drug misuse, improving the health of drug users, as well as reducing the harm they cause.”

Hospital admissions in England where the primary diagnosis was drug-related mental or behavioural disorders have fallen, from 7,584 in 1996-97 to 6,743 in 2006-7.

Admissions for poisoning have increased, from 7,057 to 10,047 in the same period.

The number of people accessing structured drug treatment services has also risen, from 85,000 in 1998-99 to 195,464 in 2006-7.

However, Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “Labour should not underestimate how bleak a picture these figures paint.

“Too few people who misuse drugs are being identified and admitted to drug rehabilitation courses early on, which has contributed to this worrying rise in admissions to hospitals.

“As drugs get stronger, the harm they are doing to young people’s mental health is increasing. The Government needs to wake up to the scale of the problem we face on drug misuse.”