Tragic news that drug-related deaths in Eastbourne have doubled is no surprise

The tragic news that drug- related deaths in Eastbourne have doubled (Eastbourne Herald, Friday October 23) click here to read should come as no surprise given the lack of investment in local alcohol and drug rehabilitation services.

The report says the drug addiction experts at UKAT are urging councils across the region to invest of drug and alcohol treatment services to avoid more loss of life.

This is something I have been calling for for a number of years but on each occasion the response from the powers that be is that it is best to send the clients out of the area for their rehabilitation. This belief went out of fashion in the 1990s.

It is essential that people find recovery in the community within which they intend to live in the future, where they need to build up a support system.

Not only does investment in local rehabilitation services save lives, it also saves money in acquisitive crime and substance misuse related hospital admissions.

Not far from Eastbourne, BHT Sussex runs a highly successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation service in Brighton for residents of the city. Every pound invested in that service resulted in at least £4.95 of acquisitive crime not been committed in the Brighton and Hove area.

Over a two-year period 240 addiction related hospital A&E visits were avoided.

I hope that we will see investment in local residential rehabilitation services in Eastbourne and Hastings before the number of drug related deaths doubles again.