DOCTORS warned today that crippling cuts to addiction services risk condemning young adults with drug problems to a “lifetime of dependence and poor health” — and, in some cases, early death. 

Budgets have been slashed in England by 37 per cent since 2014, with cuts amounting to £26 million according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP). 

This has resulted in a 40 per cent reduction in the number of young people accessing treatment and specialist support between 2014 and 2020.

RCP addiction faculty  vice-chairman Dr Emily Finch said the cuts are “completely unsustainable and unbelievably short-sighted.

“We need to wake up to the fact that money spent on addictions services saves the NHS a whole lot more in the long run, whether that’s in A&E or in other mental-health services.”

She warned that without services, some young people are at risk of a lifetime of drug addiction, poor health and early death. 

Nearly half of young people accessing services have problems with alcohol, the RCP’s report, published today, found. 

It reads: “In 2018/19 there were over 40,000 alcohol-related admissions among the under-24s and 26 per cent of these were for mental and behavioural disorders due to the use of alcohol.”

RCP president Dr Adrian James warned that more young people will be affected unless the government commits to “substantial investment” in youth addictions services.

“Addictions services do have a cost, but the cost of addiction to society is far greater,” he said. 

The RCP is calling for £43m to be invested in such services.

A government spokesperson said: “We are determined to confront the harms caused by drugs across the UK and deliver for the public by making our streets safer and protecting the most vulnerable.”