News (Media Awareness Project) - UK: Sussex Drugs Poisoning Figures Soar |
| Title: | UK: Sussex Drugs Poisoning Figures Soar |
| Published On: | 2008-11-04 |
| Source: | Argus, The (UK) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-11-07 00:32:43 |
SUSSEX DRUGS POISONING FIGURES SOAR
The number of people admitted to hospital with drug poisoning in
Sussex has almost doubled in five years.
Records released by the Department of Health show 3,144 people were
admitted in 2006-07, up 93% on the 1,628 admitted in 2002-03.
The drugs involved ranged from illicit narcotics and hallucinogens to
antibiotics and other medicines.
The figures revealed a disturbing increase in the number of young
people treated for drug abuses.
Last year across Sussex, 519 youngsters aged up to 18 were admitted
to hospital with drug poisoning, up 28% from the 404 in 2002-03.
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, which runs the Royal Sussex
County Hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath,
treated 141 young people aged up to 18 last year, including 17
children aged ten or under.
East Sussex Hospitals, which runs Eastbourne District General and the
Conquest in St Leonards, treated 182 young people -- including 33
children aged ten or under.
The statistics were released by the Government in response to
parliamentary questions from the Liberal Democrats, who said they
painted a "horrifying" picture.
Health officials stressed the figures included adverse reactions to
prescribed medicines and incidents such as children taking medicines
accidentally in the home as well as overdoses, both intentional and
accidental. It is not possible to tell how many were the result of
illegal substance abuse.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These are
horrifying statistics. The toll of damage from drugs is immense and
the cost to the NHS enormous.
"Ministers must ensure that local services like hospitals, schools,
councils and the police work together to ensure the lives of children
are not destroyed by drugs."
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The Government takes the
issue of drug misuse very seriously.
Huge improvements have already been delivered but we are committed to
doing all we can to further reduce the number of deaths associated
with drug use."
The number of people admitted to hospital with drug poisoning in
Sussex has almost doubled in five years.
Records released by the Department of Health show 3,144 people were
admitted in 2006-07, up 93% on the 1,628 admitted in 2002-03.
The drugs involved ranged from illicit narcotics and hallucinogens to
antibiotics and other medicines.
The figures revealed a disturbing increase in the number of young
people treated for drug abuses.
Last year across Sussex, 519 youngsters aged up to 18 were admitted
to hospital with drug poisoning, up 28% from the 404 in 2002-03.
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, which runs the Royal Sussex
County Hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath,
treated 141 young people aged up to 18 last year, including 17
children aged ten or under.
East Sussex Hospitals, which runs Eastbourne District General and the
Conquest in St Leonards, treated 182 young people -- including 33
children aged ten or under.
The statistics were released by the Government in response to
parliamentary questions from the Liberal Democrats, who said they
painted a "horrifying" picture.
Health officials stressed the figures included adverse reactions to
prescribed medicines and incidents such as children taking medicines
accidentally in the home as well as overdoses, both intentional and
accidental. It is not possible to tell how many were the result of
illegal substance abuse.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These are
horrifying statistics. The toll of damage from drugs is immense and
the cost to the NHS enormous.
"Ministers must ensure that local services like hospitals, schools,
councils and the police work together to ensure the lives of children
are not destroyed by drugs."
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The Government takes the
issue of drug misuse very seriously.
Huge improvements have already been delivered but we are committed to
doing all we can to further reduce the number of deaths associated
with drug use."
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