GMCA 905 Drug and Alcohol Related Deaths Panels

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is commissioning a drug and alcohol related death (DARD) surveillance system to enable the recording, reporting, and analysis of drug and alcohol related deaths. The aim of the GM DARD surveillance system is to prevent drug and alcohol related deaths. Greater Manchester (GM) is a metropolitan county with a population of around 2.8m, comprising of ten local authorities; Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Greater Manchester has been at the forefront of local devolution and the GMCA and the ten local authorities work closely to ensure a co-ordinated approach to drugs and alcohol. The DARD surveillance system will be commissioned by the GMCA on behalf of the ten GM local authority areas who will provide funding for the system. The Office for National Statistics reported 229 drug misuse deaths and 498 alcohol specific deaths registered in Greater Manchester in 2022. During 2023/24, 294 deaths were reported for clients in contact with treatment services (please note these deaths may not have been directly caused by to drug or alcohol use). A DARD surveillance system has been in place across GM since 2021 and all the GM local authorities currently benefit from existing DARD panels, some of which cover combined areas for reasons of practicality and productivity. The DARD surveillance system works in co-ordination with a GM Drugs Early Warning System, drug sample laboratory testing, and an annual research project into new and emerging drugs, to provide a wider Great Manchester Drugs Intelligence System. Details available at: https://www.the-chest.org.uk/