Heroin and morphine are implicated in almost half of drug deaths

The report by the European Centre for Addiction Studies shows 55 people in Brighton and Hove died because of drug misuse between January and December 2002.

This means the seaside city, with a drug-related death rate of 26.4 per 100,000 of the population over the age of 16, has the UK's highest figure for that period.

The number has fallen, however, from the previous year's reported rate of 28 per 100,000.

Cocaine and ecstasy

A spokeswoman for the European Centre for Addiction Studies, based at St George's Medical School in London, said the drug-related death rate in Brighton was almost double the next worst affected places.

In East Lancashire, the study found there were 15.7 deaths per 100,000 of the population, with Blackpool in third position with 14.7.

National figures, compiled from data from coroners' reports by the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths, show there were 1,583 drug related deaths in the UK in 2002, which was 85 more than the previous year.

Heroin and morphine were implicated in about 45% of the deaths in 2002.

Risk factors

There were also large increases in cocaine, amphetamine and ecstasy-related deaths, the report said.

On Wednesday, the Brighton and Hove drug-related deaths steering group said initiatives to cut the rate were starting to take effect.

The group announced a 19% drop over the past 12 months, from 28 to 11.9 per 100,000 of the population over 16.

It has put the reduction down to measures aimed at identifying and reducing risk factors in drug overdose.

Initiatives have included a programme of structured day care service for rough sleepers and people who are inadequately housed, as this group is particularly linked to drug deaths.

Members of the steering group include local hospital accident and emergency departments, the Coroner's Office, Lewes Prison, Sussex Police, primary care trusts, St John Ambulance and substance misuse treatment services.