Living in constant fear

Local democracy reporter Richard Youle reports on the area of Wales where 'too many people are dying unnecessarily' from drugs use

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DRUG users in an area of Wales with reportedly the highest number of drug-related deaths have been "swimming in a disjointed system that struggles to meet their needs", according to a report.

The authors suggested this was due to "cultural paralysis" in the area - Swansea and Neath Port Talbot but referred to in the report as Western Bay - and a lack of services to reflect changes in drug use and the increasingly complex needs of those who take them.

The report was written by an independent commission which heard from more than 250 people.

It was set up by a body called Western Bay Area Planning Board, which coordinates substance use services, in response to high reported rates of drug-related deaths.

The planning board has also instigated other measures and said significant progress has been made.

The commission's report said complex drug use, the services available and untimely deaths were linked. Recurring themes were how important secure housing and mental health support were for people who experienced problems with drugs.

"Although there are some mixed messages about the specifics of the drug death data for Western Bay compared to other areas of Wales, what is clear to us is that too many people are dying unnecessarily because of drug use," said the report.

"Many others struggle to access the services they need, where and when they need them."

People in need of support told the commission they had never been asked for their views about services, and many felt the justice system was one of the quickest routes to getting treatment.

There was also a strong perception that the nature of drugs and the way users combined them were changing but the services were not, and in terms of treatment, it was a case of "methadone (opioid substitution treatment) or nothing".