Cocaine with unprecedented purity levels has helped to push drug deaths to a record level, according to official figures published yesterday.
Last year 3,744 deaths involving legal and illegal drugs were registered in England and Wales, the highest since 1993.
About seven in ten of those deaths involved drug misuse, with the rise linked to the most dangerous illegal drugs.
Deaths linked to cocaine jumped by 16 per cent between 2015 and 2016 to 371, a record high of 6.4 deaths per one million people, the statistics show. Most occurred among men aged 30 to 49.
Statisticians suggested a rise in the purity of cocaine sold on the streets could explain the rise.
Advertisement
One drugs expert said unprecedented purity levels meant those using the drug were at much greater risk of dying.
Harry Shapiro, director at DrugWise, an online drug information service, said: “Street samples of cocaine have found 80 to 90 per cent purity levels, which means what is coming into the country is likely to be nearly 100 per cent pure. It is hardly being cut and mixed with other substances.
“At that level of purity people are at an increased risk of an overdose particularly if they have high blood pressure and have been drinking as well.”
He said dealers preferred selling pure cocaine as it saved on costs by eliminating the additional manpower needed to cut it and mix with other substances.
“It is much better if it comes already wrapped and dealers do not have to unpack it, break it up and break it down to mix with other stuff,” Mr Shapiro said.
Advertisement
A DrugWise report published this year revealed a two-tier market, with prices of £30 to £40 a gram for “pub dust” purity of 40 per cent and £80 a gram for purity in excess of 70 per cent.
Martin Powell, of the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, described the government approach as “scandalous”.
“The government must accept responsibility for record numbers of people dying from overdoses year after year. Other countries value the lives of vulnerable people who use drugs enough to implement and fund many measures proven to save lives.”
A government spokesman said: “Any death related to misuse of drugs is a tragedy. While drug misuse is lower than ten years ago, we are absolutely committed to reducing it and the harm it causes.
“That’s why last month the government released a comprehensive new drugs strategy, setting out a balanced approach which brings together police, health, community and global partners to tackle the illicit drug trade, protect the most vulnerable and help those with drug dependency to recover and turn their lives around.”