More than 50 drug and alcohol deaths recorded by East Riding and Hull coroner last year, new figures reveal

Experts have warned that the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating a national substance abuse crisis, with coroner figures showing the most drug and alcohol related deaths in seven years.

The coroner for East Riding and Hull found that the deaths of 58 people – 13 women and 45 men – were related to drugs or alcohol in 2020.

That is a rise from the 42 deaths recorded in 2019, inquest conclusions published by the Ministry of Justice show.

The chief executive of Alcohol Change UK said there was still work to be done to understand the stark rise in deaths across England and Wales.

Dr Richard Piper suggested the pandemic could have contributed to people being more likely to consume alcohol, but less likely to seek help for problem drinking.

He added: “What is clear is that the crisis is deepening and millions of people are suffering as a result.

“If the UK is to recover from the pandemic, the Government must act.

“We need to have a comprehensive, strategic set of policies from the Government to tackle alcohol harm, including an alcohol care team in every NHS hospital that needs one, and sustainable funding for treatment services so that every one of us who is struggling has access to high-quality support when we need it.”

A Government spokesman said systematically addressing the causes of preventable deaths and ill health via the new Office for Health Promotion was a priority, adding that the Government would invest £80m in drug treatment funding across 15 years.

He said: “Throughout the last year providers have continued to support and treat people misusing drugs and alcohol and we are supporting local authorities with over £3.3 billion in 2021-2022 to spend on public health services.

“Death from drugs and alcohol misuse can devastate lives and harm communities, and we will always work at a national and local level to tackle drug misuse.”