Substance Misuse, 2007-08

Statistics on Substance Misuse in Wales, include data on clients seen at drug and alcohol treatment agencies in Wales for the year to the end of March 2008. The latest annual report updates the statistics previously released on 22 November 2007.

The main source of the data is the Welsh Database for Substance Misuse held by Health Solutions Wales. The data only relates to people presenting to treatment services for substance misuse and these may constitute only a proportion of all substance misusers. The report also includes additional information from other sources including hospital, mortality and police force data.

Data in this Report will differ from Reports published previously on the Welsh Assembly Government website because of revised / updated data.

The key points from the latest report are:

• There were 27,744 referrals for treatment of alcohol or drug misuse notified to the database.
• 69% of referrals were male.
• 55% of referrals related to alcohol.
• Heroin accounts for 53% of all referrals reporting problem drug use.
• Self referrals were the most common source of referral both for alcohol (32%) and for drugs (24%).
• The median age of referrals where the main problem substance was alcohol was 37 years and for drugs was 29 years.
• Waiting times for assessment have been calculated for 12,403 clients with referral and assessment dates recorded; 56% were assessed within the target of 10 working days.
• Waiting times for treatment have been calculated for 11,069 clients with assessment and treatment dates recorded; 95% were treated within the target of 10 working days of assessment.

Further information can be found on the StatsWales website

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5036
E-mail: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk