蜜芽传媒

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there were more than 3,700 deaths involving both legal and illegal drugs in 2016 - a record level.

Those in their 40s have overtaken people in their 30s as the age group with the highest mortality rate from drug misuse.

Roweena Russell runs hiwecanhelp.com, an online resource for people whose lives are affected by drugs. She told Radio 4's World at One the situation "is a public health crisis" and that people in their 40s are at higher risk "because they may have been using drugs longer".

(Photo: Man with a variety of drugs on the table Credit: Getty Images)