DRUG CASES RISE IN SUSSEX

Hundreds of people have been treated for drug-related problems in
hospitals across Sussex.

Figures published by the NHS Information Centre show 128 people in
Brighton and Hove alone were admitted to hospital with drug poisoning
in 2008-09 compared to 116 two years before.

A further 466 cases of drug-related mental health or behavioural
disorders were recorded by hospital workers during the same period, a
rise on the 369 in 2006-07.

The most common drug was cannabis but there were also reports of
people affected by cocaine, ecstasy, tranquillisers, anabolic
steroids and ketamine.

Earlier this year Brighton and Hove regained its unwanted crown of
drugs death capital of the UK after coroners recorded the death of 44
people in the city during 2008.

Work being done to tackle drug problems in the city includes
Operation Reduction, run by Sussex Police, the Crime Reduction
Initiative charity and the city's drug and alcohol action team. It
focuses on getting users into treatment and dealers off the streets.

Graham Stevens, co-ordinator of the Brighton and Hove drug and
alcohol action team, said: "The team takes seriously the increase of
drug-related hospital admissions. A range of measures has been
implemented to reduce the harm caused by drugs."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said drugs misuse was a
national problem.

He added: "There is a whole range of reasons why the figures may be
increasing, including contaminated drugs as well as factors such as
worsening economic conditions leading to rising numbers of users.

"A huge amount of work is going on across the city to tackle drugs by
the council and its police, health and voluntary sector partners.

"High quality treatment services and innovative projects, a number of
which had received national recognition, are working to reduce the
harm caused to individuals, their families and communities.

"More resources would always be welcome to expand services but that
has to be balanced by the resources needs of other vital services."

Work includes specialist advice and training for addicts getting
treatment, those in hostels and their carers.

The city is experiencing a growing number of teenagers using the
"legal high" mephedrone, also known as meow or miaow.

There were 122 drug poisoning admissions and 327 drug-related
disorders reported in hospitals in West Sussex compared to 84 and 367
two years earlier.

In East Sussex there were rises from 88 to 104 and 355 to 371
respectively.