Fears over ‘higher strength opioids’ in Camden as support services report ‘substantial increase’ in demand

“The level of need has increased substantially” for those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, report council officers – one year on from the opening of Change Grow Live (CGL), the borough’s new support service.

“We’re seeing an increasing complexity of [needs in] those presented to drug and alcohol services,” said Emma Stubbs, head of drugs, alcohol and sexual health.

Latest data indicates the service is supporting over 1,640 residents with drug and/or alcohol needs.

This is “affected by our financial instability”, Stubbs reports, as the grant funding for CGL runs out in April 2025.

Stubbs attributed the increase to the rising level of “adulterated drug supply”, which is “largely to do with higher strength opioids” and “illicit benzodiazepines” purchased online.

Last summer, Camden experienced a spate of non-fatal overdoses and one overdose death which have all been attributed to high strength opioids.

Following a review of how services handle and attempt to prevent opioid overdose, CGL distributed 600 naloxone kits (opiate antidotes) to service users, families/carers and other partners from April to December 2023.

The increase has also been attributed to more drug and alcohol users suffering from severe mental health issues, and mental health services being difficult to access for those who are “actively using substances”.

Stubbs said the CGL service is “working closely with mental health partners” on how they can work more “creatively” to fix the “chicken and egg” situation of substance abuse and mental health.

Local probation services have reported a “significant caseload” of about 500 people in need of drug and alcohol support following time in prison.

The latest data indicates that just under half of Camden’s prison leavers engage with drug and alcohol treatment within three weeks of their release date. This is up from 27 per cent in April 2023, and above the average London rate of 35 per cent.

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