THE number of drug overdoses in some of the city's most deprived areas has soared in the last decade.
Newly released figures show the number of people discharged from hospitals following treatment for drug abuse in the last three years and where in Edinburgh they come from.
Compared to the same figures for 1997, the number of drugs-related admissi
ons may have almost doubled.
The data does not show exact figures for areas where there were between one and nine drug- related admissions. But analysis of the areas with the highest number of admissions shows that in the three years up to 1997 there were at least 700 admissions, whereas in the last three years there were more than 1200 in those areas.
Statistics released by the Scottish Public Health Observatory show that the areas of Edinburgh traditionally associated with poverty throw up the most cases, and the gap between rich and poor appears to be widening.
Areas such as Wester Hailes, Muirhouse and Pilton show up as the worst for drugs admissions, while Barnton and Cammo, Bonaly and Pentlands and Braids recorded no incidents at all.
In Clovenstone and Drumbryden there are more than two incidents a month of patients being admitted to hospital on drug-related matters. In Muirhouse, Old Town and Leith Street, West Pilton and Gracemount, Southhouse and Burdiehouse the number is only slightly lower.
In contrast, ten years ago there were no areas of the city with this number of admissions each month.
Pentlands councillor Ricky Henderson, whose ward covers Clovenstone, said he was saddened by the findings.
"It is of serious concern and clearly there is a long way to go on this," said the Labour councillor. "Clovenstone is a really tight-knit community with a great spirit, but that's not to say it doesn't have social problems as well.
"Clearly the health services, the Government and all other agencies still have to put work into these areas. A lot of voluntary organisations in and around Wester Hailes have lost funding over the last while and they do make a difference in the area."
Figures show that in the Capital over the last three years there have been a total of 1340 hospital admissions because of drugs. This is well above the national average, but compares favourably with Glasgow and Dundee.
It is understood the vast majority of these admissions are for the misuse of illegal drugs.
The trends linking deprivation with poor health have previously been shown in life expectancy, the numbers claiming incapacity benefit, alcohol-related hospital admissions and pregnant women who continue to smoke.
The city's health and social care leader, Councillor Paul Edie, said: "All the agencies have to work and pull together on this.
"It's not an enormous problem in that it doesn't affect a huge amount of people, like alcohol abuse does, but for those who are affected it is devastating."
