Slough is a large town of 134, 072 residents situated in Berkshire, and close to London. According to the Slough Borough Council, there is a significant issue with alcohol misuse in the area. The Safer Slough Partnership Strategic Assessment conducted a survey in which they asked whether or not alcohol misuse and dependency was a significant concern. Approximately 30 % of those asked, agreed that is was a problem.

In Slough, alcohol related hospital admissions and deaths exceed the national average. Due to there being a diverse makeup of the population, with at least 50,000 residents being migrants, the council has said there are unique challenges to addressing the alcohol problem. Due to people of all ages consuming over the recommended daily limit of alcohol, Slough is negatively affected by social and economic deprivation. According to the council, there is a lack of reliable data on alcohol dependency in Slough. It is estimated to affect 5.9 % of the population with most of these people to be between 25 and 35 years of age.

Drug use in Slough is of a great concern with the effects ranging from overdose, death, blood borne diseases, mental health problems, and domestic abuse. The wider community has also been affected by drug use and has felt an increase in crime and antisocial behavior.

In Slough, there is an estimated 1,066 heroin, opiate, and/or crack-cocaine users. It is one of the highest prevalence areas in the South East of the country. Most people, around 77 % smoke

either of these drugs with the remainder injecting them.

The profile of known drug users are typically native British men between 35 and 64 years of age. Younger people under the age of 35 tend to prefer stimulants, ketamine, cannabis, and steroids.

According to the Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset Drug and Alcohol Governance Board, most people in these areas do not use drugs other than alcohol. Those who do use illicit substances tend to do so on a frequent basis and are causing high levels of harm to themselves, as well as, their family and the wider community. In Poole, and the surrounding areas, illicit drugs, legal highs, and prescription medications are common in misusers. Around 4,000 people are estimated to be using heroin, opiates, or crack-cocaine. Although this number equates to less than one percent of the population, there are harms associated with their use. In Poole, Bournemouth, and Dorset, there are approximately 40 drug related deaths and 700 hospital admissions each year. Emerging reports about synthetic cannabis (Spice), ecstasy, and cocaine use in the area have come forward; however, it is unknown how many people are misusing these drugs.

In terms of alcohol use in Poole, and the nearby areas of Dorset and Bournemouth, 6 % of the population over 16 years are consuming alcohol at high risk levels. This equates to 37,000 people. In 2013, there were 63 alcohol related deaths in Poole. Alcohol related liver disease is of a great concern amongst doctors. In the UK, this disease kills more people than diabetes and road accidents combined.

Just 20 miles from Manchester, Blackburn is a small town of about 140,000 residents. Like other UK towns, Blackburn is struggling with an increase in alcohol and drug misuse. According to the Lancashire County Council, opiate and crack-cocaine use is “noticeably” above the national average.

In Blackburn and Blackpool, there is an estimated 20 opiate users per 1000 people, and 14.5 crack-cocaine use per 1000. The national average is 8.6 users per 1000. The report also says that drug related deaths are on the rise, with two-fifths of them occurring in just five Lancashire areas; although Blackburn is not one of these.

According to the Office of National Statistics, in 2011 to 2013, both Blackburn and Darwen, as well as the neighbouring boroughs were all within the top 6 areas for drug related deaths in the country. Since then, Lancashire developed a £3.4m strategy to reduce drug and alcohol addiction, particularly in Blackburn and Darwen. Part of this included introducing more non-residential, NHS funded treatment programmes  and support services.

Alcohol use in Blackburn and the nearby areas is concerning with most Lancashire towns having misuse and dependency rates well above the national average. Between 2017 and 2018, there were at least 7,935 hospital admissions in Lancashire. Blackburn and nearby Darwen recorded 1,336 admissions, which rank within the top 10 % of the country.

In terms of binge drinking, men and women between the ages of 16 and 25 are at most risk; however, those who are most affected by an alcohol addiction were over the age of 35. Nearly 70 % are men who are married and have children.

In Chesterfield, Derbyshire, drug and alcohol misuse statistics are not readily available. However, like other parts of the UK, the town, and nearby areas, of 150,000 people has experienced an increase in drug misuse and dependency.

According to the Office for National Statistics, since 2001 to 2016, there has been 3,570 deaths in Derbyshire and Derby as a result of drug overdose or misuse. These deaths have involved many different substances including controlled and non-controlled drug, prescription medication, and OTC medication.

Currently the Health Chiefs in Derbyshire has said the recent drug related deaths are typically the result of synthetic highs, like Spice, crack cocaine, and opiates such as heroin. Between 2015 and 2017, there were 119 drug deaths in Derbyshire and 43 in Derby. Bare in mind these numbers do not include accidents, medical conditions, or overdoses that did not involve a fatality; nor do they include suicides attributed to drug use.

Also in Derbyshire, the deaths related to opiates have declined or remained stable in the borough, but deaths from fentanyl have risen as have deaths attributed to cocaine. Most people who have lost their life to drugs are between the ages of 40 and 49.

Also in Chesterfield and the nearby areas, alcohol misuse is higher than the regional and national average. The under 75 mortality rates for alcohol related liver disease was 25 people per 100,000 in 2014-2016. Alcoholic related hospital admissions is also higher than the national average for males and females.

Doncaster is a large metropolitan area in South Yorkshire. The community is well known for its industry, nightlife, and cultural history. Although Doncaster has a strong working class, it is not without its problems, especially when it comes to substance misuse. Alcohol, heroin, morphine, and spice use in Doncaster is rife.

Although police are trying to combat the drug problem in the area, the use continues. Many of the people come from low to middle income households and begin using because their friends encouraged them to do so. Others experienced trauma during their childhood. Rather than arresting the users, the Doncaster council has said they will encourage people to get mental health treatment.

Spice, a Class B, drug is one of the more popular substances in Doncaster. As a synthetic cannabis, it is a mixture of chemicals that produce zombie-like effects. The drug is very addicting and has devastating effects, especially when Doncaster addiction treatment is not sought. In addition to Spice, heroin or other opiate drug use is considerably high; however, exact numbers are unknown.

Alcohol use is similar to the national average with around 73 % of the population drinking within the NHS standards. Approximately 19.5 % of Doncaster adults consume alcohol at an increasing risk and 7.2 % are considered to be alcohol dependent drinkers. The council spends over 200 million pounds on alcohol related medical conditions, including dependency, each year. Part of this goes to residential alcohol treatment programmes  in Doncaster. Only those who are suffering from a serious alcohol or drug dependency may be referred to residential treatment covered by the NHS.