UK DRUG DEATHS SOAR

LONDON: British deaths from ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamines have rocketed
47 per cent in the past year.

The toll topped 1500 for the first time, fuelled by a rise in so-called
"recreational" hard drugs taken by weekend users.

Ecstasy, cocaine and speed are increasingly used by young people who take
cocktails of drugs every weekend.

The findings emerged in a study of coroners' reports which suggested
stronger tablets, easier availability, falling prices and the growing
popularity of drug cocktails were behind the rising death toll.

Dr Fabrizio Schifano, who led the research at the European Centre for
Addiction Studies at St George's Hospital Medical School in South London,
said recreational users did not see themselves as addicts or considered
they were at risk of dying," Dr Schifano said.

"In the 1980s, heroin users lived on the margins of society. But now,
regular drug users are just as likely to be employed, have close
relationships and be settled down.

"More and more they seem to think that to have a night out, they have to
take a concoction of drugs, often including these stimulants.

"These people think that to consume drugs on a recreational basis is
acceptable, because they are just taking them on a Friday and Saturday
night, rather than every day of the week.

"They do not perceive themselves as drug addicts.

"They go back to work on Monday and don't see anything wrong in their
lifestyle. That's the trend we are seeing and it's very worrying."

Many weekend users took a cocktail of drugs and alcohol in sessions of up
to 12 hours.

In dozens of fatal cases, the victims also smoked cannabis.

Cocaine was involved in 147 deaths last year, a 47 per cent rise on
2001. Amphetamines were linked to 53 deaths, a 60 per cent rise. There
were 64 ecstasy-related deaths, up 34 per cent.

Dr Schifano said that even a small amount of a drug could kill a hardened
user who had built up a tolerance over months or years. In a process
called "reverse tolerance", the user suddenly became acutely sensitive and
died.

The first death in Britain from a new synthetic form of morphine called
oxycodone was recorded last year.

Called "hillbilly heroin", it has killed hundreds in the US.

Overall, drug-related deaths rose by about 6 per cent on 2001 last year -
from 1498 to 1583. About 45 per cent were due to heroin, morphine and
other drugs.

The greatest increase in drug-related deaths were in West London, Bridgend
and Glamorgan Valleys, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, North
Northumberland and East Lancashire.