This is the eighth annual report for the Integrated Monitoring System (IMS), which collects data on the use of low threshold services such as Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSP) and brief interventions across Cheshire and Merseyside.

It complements the information contained within the IMS data tables document.

This year’s report covers the period of the first full year (2020-21) of the Covid-19 pandemic and accordingly much of the data should be looked at through the prism of restrictions that were in place in the region during this time. This is discussed further in the discussion section of this report.

The Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) annual data report presents an overview of all activity recorded in IMS for the 2020-21 financial year together with tables showing year on year change to the previous full year.

This data report presents IMS data, covering presentations to needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) and other low threshold interventions delivered to individuals by drug and alcohol services, and pharmacies across Merseyside and Cheshire.

The data report is available as both the PDF data tables document and as an Excel spreadsheet workbook and is accompanied by the IMS annual report.

Figures for individual service providers covering the 2020-21 year can be found in the 2020-21 Q4 reports for each Local Authority area on the quarterly reports page.

Drug related death remains a significant issue at both a local and national level England and Wales saw their deaths by drug poisonings rise by 3.8%. Similarly, for Cheshire and Merseyside, ONS data shows a record 251 deaths for drug poisonings and 189 deaths for drug misuse recorded for the region, representing 13.6% and 11.2% rises respectively.

This report details Drug Related Deaths (DRD) across Cheshire and Merseyside in 2020 as reported through the IMS DRD surveillance system which is now operational in all nine local authorities across the sub-region. Deaths reported to the system include any individual who has died while in treatment or recent treatment with a drug or alcohol treatment provider alongside any DRD cases identified by the coroner.The Cheshire and Merseyside 2020 Drug Related Deaths report is accompanied by appendix reports covering each Local Authority area:

This is the seventh annual report for the Integrated Monitoring System (IMS), which covers low threshold activity such as Needle and Syringe Programme (NSP) use and the delivery of brief interventions across Cheshire and Merseyside. It compliments information contained within the IMS data tables document.

As with last year, we have focussed this report on some of the main findings from the time period it covers; the data tables which underpin these findings can be found in the data table document. In total 58 specialist agencies or projects within agencies reported to IMS, alongside 99 pharmacies, totalling 157 different providers of services across Cheshire and Merseyside, the highest number reporting to IMS since its inception.

The Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) annual data report presents an overview of all activity recorded in IMS for the 2019-20 financial year by drug and alcohol services, and pharmacies across Merseyside and Cheshire. This data report presents IMS data, covering presentations to needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) and other low threshold interventions delivered to individuals using drugs and/or alcohol.

The data report is available as both PDF data tables document and as an Excel spreadsheet workbook.

This data report accompanies the IMS annual report, and separate local authority overview reports.

Drug related death remains a significant issue at both a local and national level within England and Wales, with 2019’s death registrations showing a new record number of drug poisonings recorded for the eighth consecutive year. Similarly, for Cheshire and Merseyside, ONS data shows a record 221 deaths recorded for the region.

This report details drug related deaths (DRD) across Cheshire and Merseyside in 2019 as reported through the DRD surveillance system which is now operational in all nine local authorities across the sub-region. Deaths reported to the system include any individual who has died while in treatment with a drug or alcohol treatment provider alongside any DRD identified by the coroner.

The Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) annual report presents an overview and commentary on the activity recorded in IMS for the 2018-19 financial year by drug and alcohol services, and pharmacies across Merseyside and Cheshire. This report highlights key points from the IMS data, covering presentations to needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) and other low threshold interventions delivered to individuals using drugs and/or alcohol. This annual report is accompanied by a separate data tables document which includes a detailed breakdown of all activity for the 2018-19 year.

The Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) data tables include activity delivered during the 2018-19 financial year by 38 drug and alcohol services and 93 pharmacies across Merseyside and Cheshire. This data covers presentations to needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) and other low threshold interventions delivered to individuals using drugs and/or alcohol, focussing on areas such as wellbeing, demographics and substances used. The data is presented in three distinct cohort groups.

The data tables accompany the IMS annual report which includes cross-matched data from Public Health England (PHE) for individuals reporting to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS).

The annual report for the Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) details activity delivered during the 2017-18 financial year by 50 drug and alcohol services and 95 pharmacies across Merseyside and Cheshire. The report provides information on presentations to needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) and other low threshold interventions delivered to individuals using drugs and/or alcohol, focussing on areas such as wellbeing, demographics and substances used. The data is presented in three distinct cohort groups.

This IMS report is also accompanied by a separate supplementary report which contains the supporting data tables.

The annual report for the Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) details activity across Merseyside and Cheshire over the period of the 2016-17 financial year. The data is presented in three distinct cohort groups; (1) individuals injecting psychoactive drugs, (2) individuals injecting steroids/IPEDs, (3) individuals accessing support related to alcohol or non-injecting drug use. Data from IMS is also cross-matched with the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and the Criminal Justice Dataset to provide a complete picture of activity within each of the nine Local Authority areas in Cheshire and Merseyside.

The annual report for the Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) details activity across Merseyside and Cheshire over the period of the 2015-16 financial year. The data is cross-matched with figures from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and the Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) to provide a report inclusive of every individual in contact with any drug or alcohol treatment/low threshold or syringe-exchange service in each of the nine Local Authority areas in Cheshire and Merseyside.

This is the second annual report for the Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) which details activity across Merseyside and Cheshire over the period of the 2014-15 financial year. The data is cross-matched with figures from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and the Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) to provide a report inclusive of every individual in contact with any drug or alcohol treatment/low threshold or syringe-exchange service in each of the nine Local Authority areas in Cheshire and Merseyside.

This is the first annual report for the IMS (Integrated Monitoring System), which includes the information previously reported in “Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Cheshire and Merseyside” and “IAD (Inter-Agency Database) NSP (Needle and Syringe Programme)” reports, along with an overview of significant developments in terms of policy and publications in the field of drugs and alcohol research.

The monitoring of Drug and alcohol use across Merseyside and Cheshire goes beyond structured services – the 2012/13 Drug and Alcohol Treatment report brings together all interventions delivered across the region including those provided by low threshold services which work with client groups catered for outside of mainstream provision. The report provides analysis of information collected from ATMS and the GOLIATH (NSTMS) monitoring systems, as well as highlighting developments and research in the field of drugs and alcohol during the 2012/13 financial year.

The IAD (Inter Agency Database) report for 2012/13 brings together data from syringe exchange services provided within an agency and pharmacy setting across Merseyside and Cheshire, with analysis of demographics, substance use and presentations to structured drug services through cross matching with NDTMS data.

This publication details the results of the tier 3 and 4 (structured) National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and the tier 2 (non structured) Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System (ATMS) in Cheshire and Merseyside during 2011/12.

This publication details the results of the tier 3 and 4 (structured) National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and the tier 2 (non structured) Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System (ATMS) in Cheshire and Merseyside during 2011/12.

This publication details the results of the tier 3 and 4 (structured) National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and the tier 2 (non structured) Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System (ATMS) in Cheshire and Merseyside during 2010/11.

Archived quarterly reports from the Inter Agency Drug Misuse Database (IAD) which was established by Merseyside Drug (and Alcohol) Action Teams, Merseyside Police, and the Centre for Public Health in 1997.