The United Kingdom has a higher levels of drug misuse than any other country in Europe. The use of illegal or prescription drugs carries many serious health risks, often because they are not controlled or supervised by medical professionals. Street drugs are often mixed with many other substances, which can be more harmful than the drugs themselves. The National Public Health Service has produced a substance misuse health needs assessment which includes information relating to, binge drinking in adults, children drinking alcohol, referrals for treatment for alcohol and/or drug misuse, hospital admissions, alcohol and drug related deaths, patterns of drug misuse in adults and children, methadone and buprenorphine prescribing. In Wales during 2006-07 There were 29,589 clients seen for treatment of alcohol or drug misuse in Wales and 69% of clients seen were male. For 52% of clients seen the main problem substance was alcohol For 19% of clients seen the main problem substance was heroin 29% of clients seen were self referrals and 15% were referred by a GP. 32% of clients whose main problem substance was alcohol were aged under 30. 55% of people whose main problem substance was drugs were aged under 30. During 2006-07, Merthyr Tydfil had the second highest rate of clients seen for drug misuse in Wales as shown in the chart below: Referrals to the drug support agencies would seem to indicate that Merthyr Tydfil has amongst the highest incidence of drug use for all drugs, other than alcohol, in Wales, and is higher than the Welsh average.
The United Kingdom has a higher levels of drug misuse than any other country in Europe. The use of illegal or prescription drugs carries many serious health risks, often because they are not controlled or supervised by medical professionals. Street drugs are often mixed with many other substances, which can be more harmful than the drugs themselves.
The National Public Health Service has produced a substance misuse health needs assessment which includes information relating to, binge drinking in adults, children drinking alcohol, referrals for treatment for alcohol and/or drug misuse, hospital admissions, alcohol and drug related deaths, patterns of drug misuse in adults and children, methadone and buprenorphine prescribing.
In Wales during 2006-07
During 2006-07, Merthyr Tydfil had the second highest rate of clients seen for drug misuse in Wales as shown in the chart below:
Reported use of Drugs
The British Crime Survey includes questions about illicit drug use. Results from the 2004-05 survey showed that 11% of adults [16-59] and 30.1% of young people [16-24] in Wales reported using drugs in the last year.
Health Challenge Wales
MIDAS [A joint service run by Drugaid and the Community Drug and Alcohol Team]
Drugaid
Kaleidoscope Drug Intervention Programme
Brynawel House
FRANK
DrugScope
Re-Solv
Drugs Education Forum
Healthwise
Release
Substance Misuse Strategy for Wales 2008-2018
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