With official figures out last month revealing that drug related deaths in Wales have increased to their highest numbers since 1993, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for a Welsh Government Statement on the matter.
Figures released in August by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that Wales has seen an 84% increase in drug-related deaths over the last decade, and that across England and Wales as a whole, Wales comes second only to the north east of England for the highest mortality rate for drug-related deaths.
Speaking in yesterday’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood referred to the concerning figures and said given that the Welsh Government has been responsible for tackling substance misuse policy in Wales for two decades, the issue warrants a Statement from them.
He said:
“I call for a Statement on drugs, related to drug poisoning in Wales. This follows the publication during the Assembly summer recess of Office for National Statistics figures showing deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales 2018. These revealed that Wales has the second-highest figures amongst 10 areas - nine English regions and Wales. Wales had both the second biggest increase in its rate over the last 10 years, an 84 per cent increase, and the second-highest age-standardised mortality rate for deaths per million related to drugs misuse by country and region registered in 2018.
“Given that the Welsh Government has been responsible for tackling substance misuse policy in Wales for two decades now, Llywydd, this merits a statement and I hope this might be forthcoming.”
The Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans AM, replied: “The Minister for Health and Social Services is currently consulting on the next substance misuse delivery plan, so I think that would be an opportunity for Mark Isherwood to explore that plan to ensure that he's satisfied that it addresses the kind of issues that he described relating to drug poisoning. So, any contribution that he would have to that consultation, I know, would be welcomed, and then the Minister will obviously update the Assembly on the issue when the consultation has closed.”
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