London’s affluent Kensington and Chelsea is among the UK’s crack cocaine and heroin hotspots while Middlesbrough and Blackpool top the list
- Public Health England released statistics detailing the use of crack cocaine and opiates across UK regions
- Figures have revealed a sharp increase in people in treatment for crack cocaine problems across the UK
- Study found ‘hidden’ group of crack users including women because of ‘aggressive marketing by dealers’
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Experts have warned the use of crack cocaine and heroin is rising at a dangerous rate across the UK, with some of the country’s wealthiest boroughs among the worst affected areas.
Figures released by Public Health England have revealed Kensington and Chelsea has the third highest number of crack cocaine and heroin addicts in the country.
The affluent London enclave – which has the highest average property prices in the UK – has 1,451 regular users of the Class A drugs – or 13.31 per every 1,000 people.
Kingston upon Hull has a population of 173,367 and some 3,146 users of crack cocaine/opiates – the highest concentration anywhere in the UK.
The graph, released by Public Health England, details the percentages of treatment for substance abuse across the UK, from 2017-2018
The startling statistics put Kensington and Chelsea – where house prices cost on average £1.4million – in the top 25 of local authority areas in England.
It has the third highest number in the whole of the capital.
These figures represent the regions of England, the population and the total amount of drug users in that region
The number of addicts have rocketed by 41 per cent in just four years when the total figure stood at 1,207.
Wealthy residents of London’s smallest borough include Sir Richard Branson, Charles Saatchi and Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.
The most recent figures, from 2016/17, have been released by Public Health England.
A recent Home Office report also warned that crack cocaine and heroin rocks are selling in the UK for as little as £5.
The drugs can also be ordered on UK streets quicker than ordering a pizza or ordering an Uber, according to experts.
The Government findings also revealed a rise in middle-class usage of crack cocaine.
Other affluent areas have also seen the number of crack cocaine and heroin users increase dramatically.
Surrey – where house prices are also average well over £1million in villages like Virginia Water and Cobham – has seen the number of addicts rise by 31 per cent over four years.
The county currently has 3,391 in total, compared to 2,572 in 2012/13.
Hertfordshire – which boasts wealthy towns like Radlett – has seen numbers increase by 43 per cent from 2,908 to 4,174 in four years.
The startling statistics put Kensington and Chelsea – where house prices cost on average £1.4million – in the top 25 of local authority areas in England
Kingston upon Hull has a population of 173,367 and some 3,146 users of crack cocaine/opiates – the equivalent of 18.5 per 1,000 of the population
Drug use in the top 25 English local authority areas
This map details the number of people using crack cocaine and/or opiates across the UK, per 1,000 people
Figures released by Public Health England have revealed the number of people presents opiate and/or crack use (OCU) prevalence estimates for local authority areas across England, based on data relating to the financial year 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017.
(Total number / number per 1,000 population)
Middlesbrough 2,315 / 25.51
Blackpool 2,052 / 23.45
Hartlepool 1,212 / 20.63
Blackburn with Darwen 1,788 / 18.84
Kingston upon Hull 3,146 / 18.15
Liverpool 5,778 / 17.06
Bristol 4,943 / 15.66
Wirral 3,090 / 15.63
Bournemouth 1,932 / 15.05
Stoke-on-Trent 2,382 / 14.67
Tower Hamlets 3,244 / 14.42
North East Lincolnshire 1,426 / 14.35
Hackney 2,858 / 14.34
Birmingham 10,525 / 14.23
Gateshead 1,850 / 14.19
Wakefield 3,016 / 14.06
Doncaster 2,735 / 14.04
Bradford 4,710 / 14.01
Peterborough 1,737 / 13.77, Stockton-on-Tees, 1,725 / 13.77, Plymouth 2,357 / 13.77
Rochdale 1,900 / 13.76
Wolverhampton 2,233 / 13.57
Luton 1,875 / 13.32
Kensington and Chelsea 1,451 / 13.31
Torbay 1,040 / 13.27
Darlington 877 / 13.20
