A TOTAL of 32 people died from drug overdoses in East Lancashire last year, new figures show.

Data from coroners’ offices throughout the UK showed 19 drug-abuse deaths in Blackburn with Darwen in 2007, and 13 across Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley.

This equates to 8.7 deaths per 100,000 in Blackburn with Darwen, and 13 per 100,000 in the rest of East Lancashire.

The annual report, from the International Centre for Drugs Policy, University of London, said heroin and other opiate drugs caused the most deaths.

Professor Hamid Ghodse, of the University of London, said: “The findings of this report demonstrate the need for continued vigilance and constant monitoring of the drug-related deaths situation to ensure that the reasons for such trends are understood so that appropriate measures and interventions can be put in place to prevent avoidable deaths and save lives.

“I would like to thank the Department of Health for their continued support for this very important programme”.