THE number of deaths relating to drugs in Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot have peaked in the last decade according to new figures.

The data shows the number of deaths attributed to drug poisoning between 1993 and 2022, with the 2016 figures in Carmarthenshire being the highest yet and the 2022 figures in Neath Port Talbot recorded as the highest for the county.

In Carmarthenshire, there were 11 recorded deaths in 1993 – one of the highest first year figures in Wales, with a significant drop to just two in 1994, rising to eight in 1995 and dropping again to four in 1996. In 1997 there was a significant increase with 16 recorded deaths before the end of the 1990s saw constant decreases with 12 recorded in 1998, eight in 1999 and five in 2000.

This would not last, however, as in 2001 the figure rose to 20 before dropping to 11 in 2002, rising to 12 in 2003, dropping to 10 and seven in 2004 and 2005 and five in 2006. The figure would start to increase again in 2007 with 10 recorded and 15 were recorded in 2008. A decrease would be seen again towards the end of the decade, with 14 in 2009 and 10 in 2010.

2011 would see another increase with 12 reported, increasing again to 14 in 2012. There were 11 deaths recorded in 2013, 13 in 2014, 11 in 2015 before the highest figure to date in 2016 with 29 recorded deaths, more than double that of the previous year. This dipped slightly to 24 in 2017, and continued to decline towards the end of the decade with 18 in 2018 and 14 in 2019.

The 2020s saw a rise with 16 in 2020, 21 in 2021 and a significant decline with 10 recorded in 2022.

South Wales Guardian: The figures for the numbe rof deaths recorded.

In Neath Port Talbot, eight deaths were recorded in 1993, six in 1994 and 10 in 1995. There were 13 recorded in 1996 before the figure decreased for three years in a row with nine in 1997, seven in 1998 and five in 1999.

In 2000, there were 10 recorded deaths, with 11 in 2001 and 18 in 2002. In 2003 there were just five with eight in 2004, 14 in 2005, five in 2006 and seven in 2007, six in 2008 and 10 in 2009.

2010 saw the number increase to 13, dropping to nine in 2011 before increasing to 15 in 2012, dropping significantly to four in 2013 before increasing to seven in 2014 and a big jump to 18 in 2015 and 26 in 2016. There was a small decrease to 25 in 2017, 22 in 2018 before a significant drop to just five in 2019 and then rising again to 11 in 2020, 25 in 2021 and the highest figure to date with 28 in 2022.

Anyone who is struggling with a drug problem can contact DDAS (Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service) on 0330 363 9997 or by emailing confidential@d-das.co.uk. The service covers Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.