Issue details

Drug related death (DRD) remains a significant issue at both a local and national level within England and Wales, with 2019’s death registrations showing a new record number of drug poisonings recorded for the eighth consecutive year. The 10 local authorities across Greater Manchester have seen a substantial rise in both drug misuse deaths (48.8%) and deaths from drug poisoning (which include drug misuse deaths) (151.3%) since the ONS began collecting this data in 1993. The rise has been particularly acute since 2013, and the majority of overdose deaths occur outside of the treatment system.
This system will enable data and information to be compiled by local
authority in the following areas:
-demographics and trends
-substances implicated in toxicology
-cause and verdicts of deaths where available
-common themes such as employment/accommodation/relationship
status
-characteristics of deaths
This will build a more detailed picture across GM of what is happening in relation to drug related deaths, help in improving the response to these and assist with delivering the ambition of reducing drug related deaths in GM.