Somerset drugs death soaring but message of hope given

Kev Speller, who had his first drink in his teens and later became dependent on a wide range of illicit drugs, now works for local drug and alcohol service, WithYou in North Somerset.
-Credit: (Image: Jeff Moore)


Kev Speller, who had his first drink in his teens and later became dependent on a wide range of illicit drugs, now works for local drug and alcohol service, WithYou in North Somerset. Today he is speaking out about the support available to anyone in the region who is struggling.

“It was a really dark time in my life,” he said. “I knew that my health was starting to really suffer but I couldn’t find a way out. At the age of 42, everything just fell apart for me. I was drinking so much that a vein burst in my oesophagus and I nearly died.

“After I was discharged from hospital, I started a home detox. After detox, I entered Westcliffe House, a local rehab programme, and once that ended, I started volunteering there. A few months later, I became a recovery worker - that was in 2000 - and I’ve been working for the drug and alcohol service in North Somerset ever since!

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“I wish I’d known that there was a way out of my dependence years before my life blew up and I entered detox. That’s why I’m raising awareness of the services available across North Somerset now!”

Kev Speller, who had his first drink in his teens and later became dependent on a wide range of illicit drugs, now works for local drug and alcohol service, WithYou in North Somerset.
Kev Speller, who had his first drink in his teens and later became dependent on a wide range of illicit drugs, now works for local drug and alcohol service, WithYou in North Somerset. -Credit:Jeff Moore

It comes as drug-related deaths in England and Wales hit a record high – with 20 in North Somerset alone - and Simon Phillips, chief executive of WithYou - a national charity supporting people with drug and alcohol problems - calls on the new Government to be brave and bold to save lives.

The Office for National Statistics’ figures show there were drug poisoning deaths in North Somerset in 2023 – up from 10 the year before.

Soaring deaths among cocaine users have fuelled a spike in drug poisoning fatalities - with more deaths last year than ever before. Drug addiction treatment experts have now warned the nation could be on the cusp of “the biggest drug-related crisis” it has ever seen.

It comes as new government figures show there were 5,448 deaths caused by drug poisoning in England and Wales in 2023, an 11% rise from 4,907 deaths the previous year and the highest drug death toll ever recorded.

Deaths due to cocaine use have rocketed, with 1,118 deaths involving cocaine last year, 31% higher than in 2022 (857 deaths) and nearly 10 times higher than in 2011 (112 deaths). Amphetamines - stimulants found in the newly popular “pink cocaine” - caused 228 deaths last year, a 20% rise.

There have also been rises in deaths due to antipsychotics, antidepressants, and Nitazenes - new synthetic opioids made in labs that mimic the effects of Heroin but are up to 100 times stronger.

You can check the number and rate of drug poisoning deaths where you live using our interactive map

Lee Fernandes, lead therapist at the UK Drug Treatment Centres (UKAT) Group, said: “An 11% annual rise in the number of vulnerable people losing their lives to drugs is a travesty. Enough is enough now, as a country we need to come together and step up and take real action to flatten this ever-rising curve.

“Most concerning to us is the drastic rise in deaths due to substances that are, by definition, meant to keep people alive and live better lives. Drugs that are there to help with mental health conditions, such as antipsychotics and antidepressants are in fact causing more deaths than ever before.

“Unless the government and police get a real grip on this situation we are undoubtedly on the edge of the biggest drug-related crisis this country will have ever seen.”

Men were around twice as likely to die as a result of drug poisoning than women. Around two-thirds of drug poisoning deaths last year were due to drug misuse. This was particularly elevated among people born in the 1970s, often referred to as "Generation X", with the highest rate in those aged 40 to 49.