Drug-related deaths on the increase in north of the county

The number of lives lost as a result of drugs misuse has increased across the two local government districts covering the north half of County Derry over a four-year period.

Figures published last week by NISRA revealed figures for drug-related deaths and those as a result of drugs misuse for each year between 2017 and 2021.

Drug-related deaths increased across Northern Ireland by 55% between 2017 and 2021, while drug misuse deaths increased by 57% during the same period.

There have been increases also locally, with two of County Derry's three government districts recording increases during the reporting period.

Derry City and Strabane recorded 25 drug-related deaths in 2021 – the highest figure in Northern Ireland. The figure represented a huge 177% increase since the nine recorded in 2017.

Woman drug courier ' heavily linked to INLA' granted anonymity at Derry Court

During the same period, the number of drugs misuse deaths increased by 171% to 19 in 2022, the second highest behind Belfast.

Causeway Coast and Glens also saw a marked increase in drug-related deaths, recording a 56% increase to 14 in 2022, while drugs misuse deaths rose by a third to 12.

In contrast, Mid Ulster's numbers have fallen since 2017; a 31% decrease in drug-related deaths brought the figure to 9 for 2022.

A fall of 13% in drug misuse deaths was also recorded in the district, with figures for both metrics ranking second from bottom in Northern Ireland behind Lisburn and Castlereagh.

NISRA also produced data showing the age-standardised mortality rates for each district on both drug-related and drug misuse deaths.

Belfast had the highest rate (21.1) for both metrics, with Derry and Strabane ranking second for drug-related deaths (17.1) and drugs misuse deaths (12.9).

Causeway Coast and Glens had the fifth highest rate (10.7) for drug-related deaths and sixth highest (9.1) for drug misuse deaths.

Mid Ulster ranked second from bottom in both metrics, with a rate of 6.2 drug-related deaths per 100,000 of population and a figure of 4.7 for drug misuse deaths.