The numbers of people using problem drugs (opiates and/or crack cocaine) are published by the National Treatment Agency (NTA) and are available on the National Treatment Agency Website (will open in a new window).

Based on the 2008/9 data published by the NTA Sheffield has around 4,500 problem drug users aged between 15 and 64 (an estimate of 4,459 with a lower 95% confidence interval of 4,162 and an upper 95% CI of 4,924).

Just under 4,000 of the PDU estimate are opiate users and just over 2,600 are crack cocaine users.

Since 2007/8 when the prevalence figures were last calculated there has been a slight drop in the numbers of people estimated to be using opiates or crack cocaine, although this drop is not significant.

Each DA(A)T is set targets by the National Treatment Agency in order to ensure that adequate steps are being taken in each area to reduce the number of problematic drug users by increasing access to treatment services.  Treatment services reduce the harm that drugs cause to the individual, their families and the communities they live in. In Sheffield the target for the number of people in treatment in currently being exceeded.

If you would like to know more about the estimated numbers of drug users and the numbers of people receiving treatment in Sheffield please see our 2009/10 needs assessment.