Drug deaths.

DRUG related deaths have increased over the last year in Gateshead, a report has revealed.

Coroners offices across the region sent data into the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths at St George's, University of London, which found 15 deaths in Gateshead had drugs directly attributed as the cause of death in 2008, up from just one the year before.

It also found that so called 'legal highs' including the liquid drug GBL - some of which are about to be outlawed - have caused several deaths in the region.

In Newcastle, there were nine drug-related deaths, down from 23 the year before.

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