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06/03/2019
UUP: NI Facing Deepening Addiction Crisis
The Ulster Unionist Party has warned that Northern Ireland appears to be in the midst of a deepening addiction crisis, after it emerged that the number of men losing their lives in drug related incidents has increased by almost 100% over the last decade.
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) revealed earlier this week that 74% of all drug related deaths are of men, with nearly two passing each week as a direct result of substance abuse, a figure that has risen 98% over the last ten years.
Lagan Valley MLA Robbie Butler said the rise is indicative of a wider Northern Ireland drug problem: "These latest figures on drug deaths come only weeks after it was revealed that alcohol related deaths across Northern Ireland have reached the highest on record. Alcohol and drug abuse is an issue that can ruin families and sadly costs lives.
"Until it is recognised that the only way to tackle the problem of underlying addiction problems is to invest in specialist services, then I am really fearful that the problem will only continue to get worse.
"We urgently need a new approach to dealing with drug and alcohol misuse. For instance we are still spending far too much money dealing with a growing number of emergency department admissions, instead of using it to tackle the problem of addiction in the first place."
The Alliance Party has issued a similar demand, calling for prioritised mental well-being services and the reallocation of resources to therapeutic counselling services.
Paula Bradshaw, MLA for south Belfast, said the matter "absolutely cannot be tolerated any longer", and called for a transformation of the health and social care system to provide more counselling and support.
(JG/MH)
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) revealed earlier this week that 74% of all drug related deaths are of men, with nearly two passing each week as a direct result of substance abuse, a figure that has risen 98% over the last ten years.
Lagan Valley MLA Robbie Butler said the rise is indicative of a wider Northern Ireland drug problem: "These latest figures on drug deaths come only weeks after it was revealed that alcohol related deaths across Northern Ireland have reached the highest on record. Alcohol and drug abuse is an issue that can ruin families and sadly costs lives.
"Until it is recognised that the only way to tackle the problem of underlying addiction problems is to invest in specialist services, then I am really fearful that the problem will only continue to get worse.
"We urgently need a new approach to dealing with drug and alcohol misuse. For instance we are still spending far too much money dealing with a growing number of emergency department admissions, instead of using it to tackle the problem of addiction in the first place."
The Alliance Party has issued a similar demand, calling for prioritised mental well-being services and the reallocation of resources to therapeutic counselling services.
Paula Bradshaw, MLA for south Belfast, said the matter "absolutely cannot be tolerated any longer", and called for a transformation of the health and social care system to provide more counselling and support.
(JG/MH)
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