Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take in response to the Office for National Statistics report, Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2019 registrations, published on 14 October 2020.

The Office of National Statistics report shows the number of deaths due to drug poisoning registered in 2019 remains at a similar level to 2018. However, since 2012, we have seen an increase in the number of drug-related deaths many of which are preventable. We are committed to reducing drug misuse and the harms it causes.

The second phase of Dame Carol Black’s Review of Drugs was announced on 27 February 2020 and is focussing on treatment and recovery services. Drug treatment services reduce harm and help thousands of people to recover every year. Everyone who needs it must be able to get the treatment they need, which we know saves lives. The Review findings will feed into wider Government work to tackle harms, including the rising number of deaths caused by substance misuse. The final report will be made available to Ministers later this year.