Deaths related to drug use in Lewisham are the highest since records began 15 years ago, according to a council report.

The report showed how heroin and cocaine has become increasingly involved in the number of deaths since 1993.

But smoking is still the biggest killer in the borough, followed by alcohol.

Lewisham Council is seeking to understand more about the “preventable and avoidable” deaths, a council officer explained at a Safer Lewisham Partnership meeting.

Use of prescription drugs, substance issues, deaths among women and alcohol related deaths were also increasing, he said.

“Heroin is mentioned in a lot of deaths, and we know that cocaine is rising across the country,” the officer told the committee.

“There are key themes which have emerged around working with general practitioners and primary care. Making sure when people come into treatment they are treated appropriately. The main issues are around long term liver disease.

“A lot of them started drug use many years ago.”

The deaths were complex and often linked to health conditions, Geeta Subramaniam-Mooney, head of public protection and safety at Lewisham Council, told the News Shopper.

“We focus on those in treatment, so there would be a focus on drugs such as heroin and cocaine, but this needs to be seen in the wider context,” she said.

The council officer said changes have been made to ensure people were able to access treatment, with a particular focus on reducing the number of deaths of women under 30.

“Simple things like making sure flu vaccinations are brought to our services to stop pneumonia and winter flu epidemic. All of these deaths are preventable and avoidable,” he concluded.

None of the deaths had been confirmed by the coroner, while some of the causes of deaths were not truly drug or alcohol related, the meeting was told.

The use of new psychoactive substances – often called legal highs – were also said to be increasing.

News Shopper approached Lewisham Council for the specific figures surrounding drug related deaths, but the council said the information was not available to the public.