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Avoidable mortality rates in England rose significantly in 2020 compared to 2019 with the three main causes being the Covid-19 virus, drugs and alcohol and neoplasms.
The new report by the Office of National Statistics shows that a “staggering” 40% of all male deaths in 2020 from the most deprived areas of England were avoidable. This is compared to just 17.8% of all male deaths of those who live in the least deprived areas.
For female deaths, 26.7% of all deaths from the most deprived areas were avoidable, compared with just 11.9% respectively.
The report highlights three main causes of rises in avoidable mortality in 2020; the Covid-19 virus, drugs and alcohol and neoplasms (cancers).
Between 2001 and 2020, avoidable deaths for alcohol and drug-related disorders statistically significantly increased for males living in the most and least deprived areas, and for females living in the most deprived areas.
Help for drug and alcohol abuse is a postcode lottery
Further analysis by the UK Addiction Treatment Group found that the avoidable mortality data reveals staggering rises in avoidable deaths for alcohol and drug-related disorders.
Data reveals that in 2001, in the five lowest deprived deciles (1-5), 3,769 male deaths were recorded as avoidable mortality due to alcohol and drug-related disorders. This rose by 33% to 5,019 in 2019 and rose again to 5,608 avoidable deaths from alcohol and drug-related disorders in men in 2020.
The analysis also shows concerning rises in avoidable deaths for females living in the five lowest deprived deciles (1-5). In 2001, 1,597 female deaths were recorded as avoidable deaths due to alcohol and drug-related disorders. This avoidable mortality count rose by 45% to 2,315 in 2019 and rose again to 2,609 avoidable deaths from alcohol and drug-related disorders in females in 2020.
Nuno Albuquerque, Consultant Treatment Lead at the UK Addiction Treatment Group comments: “What our analysis shows is not a surprise to us. For some unknown and systemically wrong reason, people who live in areas of deprivation are deprived of the same level of sympathy, empathy, help and support as those who live elsewhere. We’re talking here about avoidable deaths; people who shouldn’t have lost their lives but because of the lack of support services and treatment options available to them where they live, unfortunately have.
“Ultimately, this report paints the truest picture that help for drug and alcohol abuse really is a postcode lottery, and if you live in an area of deprivation, you’re unlikely to win.”