Pubdate: Sun, 26 Oct 2003
Source: Sunday Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/letters/letters.html
Website: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/438
Author: Tim Utton

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.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens