WREXHAM saw a record number of drug-related deaths last year, figures show.

Charity Change Grow Live said society must recognise that drug dependency is a chronic health condition in order for things to improve, after figures showed hundreds of drug deaths across Wales in 2020.

Office for National Statistics figures show there were 17 drug-related deaths recorded in Wrexham in 2020.

This was up from 15 the year before, and the highest figure since records began in 1993.

The deaths relate to poisoning from a variety of illegal and legal drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

The figures count deaths from drug abuse but also include those from accidents, suicides, and health complications arising from drug use.

In Wrexham, 12 deaths last year were down to misuse, meaning they involved illegal drugs, or were a result of drug abuse or dependence – also a record figure.

In Flintshire, figures show there were eight drug related deaths in 2020, down from 13 the year before.

In Flintshire, five deaths last year were down to misuse, meaning they involved illegal drugs, or were a result of drug abuse or dependence.

Across England and Wales, 4,561 deaths from drug poisoning were recorded in 2020 – two-thirds of these from misuse.

While this represents the highest total for the two nations since records began in 1993, the number of drug-related deaths in Wales alone fell to their lowest level since 2014.

The ONS said around half of the deaths will have occurred in the previous year due to delays with death registrations, with the majority before the pandemic.

Eytan Alexander, a recovering addict and chief executive of the UK Addiction Treatment Group, said the number of deaths across England and Wales is “saddening but unsurprising”.

He said: “We’re living in a parallel pandemic; a drug, alcohol and mental health pandemic that has only worsened due to the virus.

“Enough is enough now, we need to come together as a society and take real action to help vulnerable people before more people lose their lives.”

The ONS figures show that the age standardised mortality rate – which accounts for age and population size – was 9.0 per 100,000 people across Wales between 2018-20, down from 9.4 between 2017-19.

In Wrexham, this rate for the most recent three-year period was much higher, at 11 per 100,000.

This was also one of the highest rates in the country, but well behind Anglesey (17.7 deaths per 100,000 people).

The figure was higher for men in Wrexham (15.1) than women (6.5).

In Flintshire, this rate for the most recent three-year period was slightly lower, at 8.2 per 100,000.

The figure was higher for men in Flintshire (11.3) than women (5.3).

The rates of drug related deaths in the most deprived areas of Wales were around six times higher than those in the least deprived parts.

Mark Moody, chief executive of the charity Change Grow Live, added: “For things to improve, we must directly challenge the stigma faced by people who use drugs.

“This starts by recognising that drug dependency is a chronic health condition which must be integrated alongside NHS services, criminal justice pathways and housing support.”

Of the deaths registered in England and Wales last year, 777 involved cocaine – a 9.7% rise from 2019 and more than five times the 144 registered in 2010.

The Welsh Government said every loss of life is a tragedy, but that it was "encouraging" to see drug deaths in Wales fall.

Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle, said: “The last year has been incredibly difficult for many and that is why we provided increased funding of nearly £60m to ensure substance misuse services continued throughout the pandemic.

“Treatment, including medication, was delivered to people who had to shield and outreach was provided for the most vulnerable including the homeless.”

Help, support and a free 24/7 live chat support service for drug abuse can be found at www.ukat.co.uk/drugs/v58/