One area of Merseyside has the highest rate for drug related hospitalisations in the country.
Figures show St Helens sees around 230 drug related hospital admissions per 100,000 people aged between 15 and 24. This number is considerably higher than the rest of the North West and is even the highest of any authority in the country.
The average figure for England is around 80 admissions per 100,000 people, almost three times lower than the rate in St Helens. Police in the borough have recently been campaigning to inform young people of the risks involved with drug use.
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In particular, the area has seen an increase in the number of young people using ketamine, with enquiries establishing that young people are being exploited to use and sell the drug leading to associated criminal and anti-social behaviour. In response to the spike, St Helens local police and the Merseyside Police Child Exploitation Team have run two separate weeks of action to address this worrying trend.
Earlier in the year, the ECHO spoke to a recovering addict about the impact ketamine had on his life. He said: "For two years I was addicted to ketamine, having it as soon as I woke up, all day in work then when I get home, I lost a lot of weight I was down to just under eight stone at one point and had bad bladder infections passing blood in constant pain. I lost so much over it I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
Ruth du Plessis, St Helens Borough Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “We are working at pace and in partnership to reduce the current high rates of drug related hospital admissions in the borough.
“Our integrated recovery service Change, Grow, Live (CGL) and our Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team (YPDAAT) support people across age ranges with drug and alcohol misuse issues, working within the community and at a strategic level to provide specialist interventions and diversionary activities.
“CGL is looking to expand on its reach with new roles for a young people’s transition worker, bridging the gap between services for young people and those aged 19+, as well as a hospital in reach worker, strengthening the presence and availability of our services within the hospital setting, and getting more people into the treatment that works for them.
“YPDAAT supports our young people with a range of interventions to reduce harm and enable them to make informed choices around drug and alcohol use if they cannot abstain. Support and prevention work is offered via 1-1 sessions, targeted and universal groupwork, making training available to professionals and working with parents and carers.
“In addition, we have recently partnered with local health services and Merseyside Police on a series of campaigns and week-long operations targeting the increase in ketamine use among young people – our actions designed to raise awareness of the impact of ketamine usage and the risk of life-limiting health conditions that the drug can cause.”
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